River Cities Reader Winter Guide - Issue #792 - November 23, 2011

River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 792 Nov. 23 - Dec.
c. 7,2011 2 Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com

Communications consolidation study. So how
did CTAs 7,800 square feet balloon into 27,000
square feet by February 2009?
The dismissal by SECC Director Brian
Hitchcock and Scott County Administrator
Dee Bruemmer of the very study that is
to guide their decision-making, as the
intergovernmental agreement dictates, stands
as testimony that citizens need to be very
concerned, and extremely vigilant. Such
More Governments Gone Wild
by Kathleen McCarthy
km@rcreader.com
7
his issues article on the Scott Emer-
gency Communications Center (SECC)
further illustrates government overreach
run amok, beginning with our state legislators.
State law (Iowa Code 28E) enabled the creation
of the Scott Emergency Communications Cen-
ter, an intergovernmental agency composed of
five separate entities: the Scott County Emer-
gency Management Agency, Scott County, the
cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, and Medic
EMS. Funding SECC is enabled through more
state legislation (Iowa Code 29C) that provided
for an unelected board as a brand-new taxing
authority, with no limit on how much it may
levy. And, as the details emerge, SECC gets to
operate with no oversight whatsoever.
Let us never forget that the SECC was sold
to Scott County taxpayers as a 7,800-square-
foot building to consolidate emergency
dispatching and enhance 911 service,
saving taxpayers money along the way. The
Bettendorf City Council barely passed the
measure to join this scheme, approving it 4-3
in December 2007. The intergovernmental
agreement that formalized this financial
boondoggle specifically dictates that all
decisions shall be guided by the 2006 CTA
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Continued On Page 47
dismissal suggests that there was never any real
intention to follow CTAs recommendations
to begin with. This is further evidenced by
Hitchcocks claim of good stewardship by
reducing the original architectural design from
a 36,000-square-foot facility to 27,000 square
feet.
And your elected so-called representatives
happily escalated the building costs from $2.34
million to $7.31 million, citing preparing for
future growth as justification. A 200-percent
increase in building size and costs alone for a
county with only 5-percent population growth
in the past decade is government gone wild.
To add insult to injury, the normal
protections from overspending by local
government were avoided altogether by Scott
County colluding with the City of Davenport,
which agreed to bond for SECC building and
equipment costs of $10 million, avoiding a
referendum that would have otherwise been
triggered for such a large county expenditure.
By transferring the $10-million bonding to
Davenport, the SECC project eluded initial
public approval, never mind any future
oversight and accountability.
During an open-house tour of the new
SECC, staff was asked what the goal was
for improving 911 call-response times. The
answer was 20 seconds faster, despite our
region already beating the national average in
response times. Now taxpayers are on the hook
for what will likely be at least $152 million in
SECC spending over 21 years for a potential
20-second gain.
Granted, seconds can save lives. But
And your elected so-called representatives happily
escalated the building costs from $2.34 million to
$7.31 million, citing preparing for future growth
as justification. A 200-percent increase in building
size and costs alone for a county with only 5-
percent population growth in the past decade is
government gone wild.

Visit SECC911.org/secc for more information.
River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 792 Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 3 Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com
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River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 792 Nov. 23 - Dec. 7,2011 4 Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com
ILLINOIS POLITICS
W
hile all eyes last week turned to
the Republicans lawsuit against
the new federal district map for
U.S. congressmen in Illinois, a similar GOP
lawsuit against the legislative district map
for Springfields state senators and repre-
sentatives may be teetering on the brink of
collapse.
Many of the same arguments are
being used by the Republicans in both
the congressional and state-legislative
cases. Both suits have a partisan angle.
The Republicans claim that the majority
Democrats so intensely used political
gerrymandering to draw their maps that the
end result illegally deprived Republicans of
their constitutional rights.
The court that is hearing the
congressional-map case has yet to rule on
the political angle,
but the court that
heard the state-
legislative-remap
case dismissed
the Republicans
political charge last
week. The political
gerrymandering
strategy was never considered all that solid
because nobody has ever won a case using
that argument. The strategy is given about
the same chance of success slim to none
in the congressional case.
As with the congressional map, the
Republicans also challenged several
Democrat-drawn state legislative districts for
being racially gerrymandered. All but two of
those challenges to the state legislative map
have been dismissed. Actually, all of them
were tossed, but the Republicans were told
they could re-argue their case on two of the
districts on December 12.
One of those two is an Illinois House
district that runs from Springfield to
Decatur. The district takes in Springfields
predominantly African-American east side
and then heads over to black neighborhoods
in Decatur. The district has a black
voting-age population of 25 percent. The
Republicans claim that the Democratic
mapmakers predominant intent was to pack
as many black voters as possible into the
district, which they claim is illegal.
The other district was drawn for state
Representative Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside).
That district, in and around Chicagos
southwest side, is about 46 percent Latino,
and the Republicans claim it should be
majority Latino.
Needless to say, even if the Republicans
win their argument on these two districts,
the state legislative map as a whole may not
change all that much. However, changing
just one boundary can have a wide-ranging
ripple effect.
For instance, pulling enough people into
Zalewskis district to make it majority Latino
will cause the Democrats to scramble to
figure out what theyre going to do with the
rest of Chicagos southwest wide, which was
precariously balanced to give everybody
what they wanted.
The end result there could be that some
majority-black districts lose Latino voters
to make sure that current Latino districts
remain Latino districts. That means the
Democrats will have to find other places to
take voters from, which could cause some
suburban white Democratic legislators
to lose black voters, which means the
Republicans might
have a better chance
of winning one
or two of those
districts.
Got all that? Like
I said, wide-ranging
ripple effects.
A Republican win on the Springfield/
Decatur district charge could take away a
House Democratic pickup opportunity. That
area is now represented by a Republican,
who announced he was running in an
adjacent district, mainly because its much
better to sell a house in this horrible real-
estate market and find a new residence
than to possibly lose ones job if one stood
and fought an uphill battle. A court win
there could also endanger Illinois Senate
Democratic Chief of Staff Andy Manars bid
to join the chamber, since the House district
makes up half of Manars new Senate district.
The Republicans have never been all that
confident about their suit against the state
legislative map. Legislative Democratic
leaders worked extra hard to ensure their
state map would withstand a court challenge.
But state Democrats dont care nearly as
much about the congressional map, and
some Republicans still have hope they can
prevail on at least some points in that case.
Besides the probably doomed political
angle, the Republicans say Congressman
Luis Gutierrezs Chicago-area district has
too many Latino voters, and want some of
those voters parceled out to two neighboring
districts, which are currently less than 50
percent Latino.
Stay tuned.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax (a daily
political newsletter) and CapitolFax.com.
by Rich Miller
00P Faces Long 0dds on
ChaIIenges to district Maps
Changing just one
boundary can have a wide-
ranging ripple effect.
John D
oe
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by Lynn Campbell
IowaPolitics.com
IOWA POLITICS
A
law aimed at slashing the number of
supervisors overseeing the work of Iowa
state employees has never been fully
implemented.
Lawmakers learned November 16 that Senate
File 2088, the government reorganization bill
signed into law in 2010, has languished because
of a lack of feedback.
The law was designed to save the state
money by finding efficiencies in government. It
called for a span of control, with a goal of one
supervisor for every 15 workers.
But Jeff Panknen, chief operating officer
for the Iowa Department of Administrative
Services Human Resources Enterprise, on
November 16 told a panel of lawmakers that the
Iowa Department of Management never gave
feedback on a draft policy to implement the law
in April 2010, so nothing was formalized.
Span of control as an actual policy has
not been implemented, but efforts are still
being made to implement span-of-control
improvements, he said.
Nonetheless, Panknen said the state reduced
its number of supervisors from 1,936 to 1,660,
for a 14.26 percent decline, between January
2010 and last month. Having 276 fewer
supervisors produced an estimated savings of
more than $24 million in salaries and benefits,
he said.
The state has 19,043 employees in its
executive branch 1,660 supervisors and 17,383
staffers, for a span of control of 1-to-10.5. Span
of control varies from 1-to-24 in the governors
office to 1-to-2.75 in the state auditors office.
Members of the legislatures State
Government Efficiency Review Committee
questioned the effectiveness of requiring
a certain supervisor-to-staff ratio in state
agencies.
It seems to me that there is some flaw in
the law when we do an over-reaching average
like we put in the law and expect it to work for
everybody, because clearly, it doesnt, said state
Representative Ralph Watts (R-Adel). Its a
laudable goal, but its very difficult ... to get that
to fit on a universal basis.
Danny Homan, president of the American
Federation of State, County, & Municipal
Employees (AFSCME) Iowa Council 61, in
November 2009 called on the state to enforce
a span of control of one manager to every
14 state employees as a way to save money. He
estimated that there was one supervisor for
every seven or eight state workers at the time.
We have too many supervisors, he said.
We should get rid of some of them. We dont
need that many.
Homan on November 16 criticized Governor
Terry Branstads administration for not trying
Law to Reduce 5tate 5upervisors
Never FuIIy lmpIemented
to reduce the number of supervisors in state
government. He said the Iowa Department of
Cultural Affairs recently laid off 10 unionized
state workers but hired two deputy directors.
Data that Panknen presented Wednesday to the
committee shows that department has a span of
control of 1-to-7.
We dont need a span of control of 1-to-10
in state government, Homan said. One-to-15
is adequate more than adequate.
Lawmakers Call for Better
Data to Prevent Double-
Dipping
A panel of state lawmakers on November
16 called for better data to ensure Iowa state
employees arent collecting government
pensions and salaries at the same time, or
double-dipping.
We have had anecdotal evidence that many
of those folks are getting re-employed and are
paid higher than they were when they were a
state employee, said state Representative Mary
Mascher (D-Iowa City), who didnt offer any
specifics. Those are the ones that concern me.
State Representative Guy Vander Linden (R-
Oskaloosa) said the state needs to keep better
track of such cases.
If the whole purpose of getting people to
retire early ... is to save money, it doesnt make
much sense to pay them more, he said.
At least 59 people who retired from state
government have been rehired between
Fiscal Year 2009 and today, according to
data presented November 16 by the Iowa
Department of Administrative Services to the
legislatures 10-member State Government
Efficiency Review Committee.
That includes two who took early
retirement, the 2010 program in which those
with at least 10 years of employment could
receive up to $25,000 $1,000 for each year
of service and a health-insurance benefit
for five years. It also includes 41 workers who
participated in a program that encouraged
them to conserve their sick leave so theyd get
more credit toward their health-insurance
premiums after they retired.
Senate File 2062, signed into law in
2010, prohibited state employees who took
early retirement from coming back as an
independent contractor or a permanent
employee. A total of 2,067 employees
participated in the program. But lawmakers
said November 16s numbers dont include
state employees who become private
contractors.
The question becomes again: Are they
doing the same job? Mascher said. Because
weve been told in some of those departments,
theyre doing exactly the same thing they were
doing as a state employee, and now theyre
being paid higher. Those are the kinds of
things that I think are alarming and of concern
to folks who are watchdogging that.
Lawmakers also said they found it
frustrating that the state has no centralized
database for information about retirees coming
back to work.
We seem to be dancing around this. Is
there somebody we can actually talk to in
state government who has this information,
so we can get some data and information here
on how this works? asked state Senator Bob
Dvorsky (D-Coralville), chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. If there are some
improprieties going on here, we need to get to
the root of it.
A review earlier this month by the
Associated Press found that tens of thousands
of state and public-school employees
nationwide are drawing government salaries
along with their pensions. In California,
New York, Texas, Florida and Michigan, at
least 66,000 government retirees also receive
taxpayer-funded paychecks, the AP said.
Iowa has had its own examples of double
dipping. The AP reported in February that
Branstad, who previously served as governor
from 1983 to 1999 and returned to office in
January, is collecting both a $130,000 salary as
governor and a state pension worth more than
$50,000 per year for earlier service.
AFSCMEs Homan said that under
the administration of former Democratic
Governor Tom Vilsack, from 1999 to 2006,
many department heads took retirement
incentives and came back as consultants or
temporary employees.
We did not want to see a repeat of that,
Homan said. I think its inherently unfair to be
drawing your IPERS [Iowa Public Employees
Retirement System pension] and coming back
and working in a state job.
Expect the issue to be taken up in the
2012 legislative session, said state Senator Jeff
Danielson (D-Cedar Falls), the committees
co-chair.
I dont feel comfortable with understanding
the full universe of public employees who
have retired and have then been re-employed,
Danielson said. Weve got some work to do
in terms of trying to get a real picture of whats
going on here.
This article was produced by IowaPolitics.
com. For more stories on Iowa politics, visit
RCReader.com/y/iapolitics.
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READERAD8_19 8/22/11 10:46 AM Page 1
Why Consolidated Dispatch in Scott County Wont Save Money
Study Vs. Reality
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
L
eaders in the consolidation of Scott
County emergency dispatch and
record-keeping claim a number
of benefits: that it has been and will be
a good deal for taxpayers; that it has
resulted in better interdepartmental
communications between emergency
responders; and that it will eventually
reduce the amount of time between when
an emergency call is made and when ap-
propriate personnel are dispatched.
But is it, as originally advertised,
saving money?
The answer to that question depends
on how you look at it, but for property
owners in Scott County, the bottom line
is that their tax rates are higher as a direct
and indirect result of the consolidation.
The Scott County overall tax-levy rate
rose by 90 cents per
$1,000 of valuation in
Fiscal Year 2011, as
the levy for emergency
management rose
from 5 cents to $1.05
nearly all of which is
funding consolidated
emergency dispatch.
Scott County dropped
its levy rate outside
of emergency
management, and
Davenport and
Bettendorf have also
lowered their property-
tax rates, but the net
financial effect of
consolidation has been
property-tax rates that are anywhere
from 65 cents to 90 cents higher
depending on
where one lives.
And while
administrators
involved in the
consolidation offer
justifications for
costs that grew
far beyond initial
estimates, its hard
to see how the
project over the
long haul can meet
a key projection of the study that got this
ball rolling: more than $4 million in cost
savings to taxpayers.
Previously, the Reader discussed
problems with the roll-out of
consolidated dispatching and record-
management within the Scott Emergency
Communications Center (SECC).
(See 911 Whitewash? Leaders Say the
Transition to
Consolidated
Emergency
Dispatch in Scott
County Has Gone
Well. It Should
Have Gone
Better, River Cities
Reader Issue 791,
November 10-22,
2011; RCReader.
com/y/secc1.)
This article
explores the issue of cost, and how and
why cost savings are unlikely to become
reality.
Sold with Savings
A May 2006 study by CTA
Communications commissioned by the
Bi-State Regional Commission at a cost of
$102,000 offered two primary benefits
to consolidation.
The first was a better emergency-
response system: A shared
communications center, with proper
implementation, offers significant service
improvements to all of the participants.
... The service level provided to all of the
citizens of Scott County will be equal to
or better than the highest levels provided
now. The goal must be the creation of an
efficient, customer-friendly organization.
The second benefit was savings: CTA
Communications estimates that full
consolidation will result in total savings
in the cost of dispatch of $4,651,320 over
the 20-year estimated life of the project
compared to the current expenditures.
The December 2007 intergovernmental
agreement that formed the SECC
reinforces that notion: The parties
believe SECC will reduce overall costs
to the individual agencies by reducing
management costs, reducing employment
competition, providing more flexible and
efficient use of staff, and provid[ing] for
more efficient use of technology. ... The
parties believe costs can [also] be reduced
by the joint purchase of radios and
equipment by SECC ... .
It further states that all decisions by
the SECC Board of Directors, Technical
Advisory Committee, and SECC Director
shall be guided by the 2006 Consolidation
Study [by CTA Communications] and
2007 Radio Study.
Despite that mandate, administrators
involved in the SECC are quick to dismiss
the CTA Communications study as a
mere guideline, and to cite all the costs
that werent factored into its estimates:
new portable radios, an emergency-
management center that became part
of the SECC building in Davenport,
and centralized warrants. They note $6
million in grants that helped offset what
grew to $28 million in capital costs.
Yet its important to stress that the
consolidation project was sold in large
part on cost savings. And when the board
of Medic EMS and the elected officials
of Davenport, Bettendorf, and Scott
County approved the intergovernmental
agreement, those savings were a critical
component; two of the four articulated
reasons for consolidation were cost-
related.
So it is true that the scope and cost
of the project ballooned beyond the
consolidation recommended by CTA
Communications, and therefore what
was explicitly authorized in the 2007
intergovernmental agreement that gave
birth to the SECC. But despite efforts
to downplay the CTA study, its findings
were the premise and starting point for
the entire consolidation enterprise, and
it remains a valuable and instructive
document for evaluating the overall
project costs.
Prognosis: Unlikely
At its core, the CTA report projects
savings of more than $4.6 million over
20 years for the full consolidation that
happened.
It actually estimated costs over 21 years,
The net financial effect
of consolidation has been
property-tax rates that are
anywhere from 65 cents to
90 cents higher.
NEWS
ABOVE: The Scott Emer-
gency Communications
Center (SECC) building
located at 1100 East 46th
Street in Davenport. Watch
the video tour of the SECC
at RCReader.com/y/secc2.
For more information visit
SECC911.org/secc
LEFT: Emergency-response
dispatching console, located
inside the Scott Emergency
Communications Center
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THE TWILIGHT SAGA:
BREAKING DAWN PART 1
Were now four films into the five-part
series of Stephenie Meyer adaptations, and
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part
1 is the first one that I wouldnt hesitate
to call unpredictable. As someone who
couldnt care less about the tortured love
triangle involving the human Bella (Kristen
Stewart), the vampire Edward (Robert
Pattinson), and the lycanthrope Jacob
(Taylor Lautner), I was confident that this
moody romance would perk up with an
added dash of Rosemarys Baby, once the
now-married Bella found herself pregnant
with Edwards child. (So the undead have
living sperm, then?) But how could I have
guessed this would be the exact moment
that, at least for me, the movie stopped
being interesting?
Prior to that miracle conception, which
occurs (off-screen) at roughly the films
midway point, director Bill Condon pulls
off something of his own miracle, because
the first half of Twilights latest is actually
and I swallow hard in saying this quite
impressive, and a lot of fun. With the
movie opening during the final nuptial
preparations, Condon, right off the bat,
does a rather exemplary job of signaling
Bellas fear and intense devotion: the former
in a creepily suggestive fantasy that finds
the new marrieds standing atop the piled
corpses of their wedding guests, the latter
in the swoony recitation of vows, with
the ministers recitations silent and only
Bellas and Edwards voices heard. Yet in
an even more welcome surprise, Condon
and screenwriter
Melissa
Rosenberg
manage to
make much of
the film in its
early scenes,
at any rate
legitimately,
laugh-out-loud
funny.
At the series
screenings Ive
attended, the Twilight fanatics in the crowds
happily gobble up whatever borderline-
amusing lines or reaction shots theyre
given; with Billy Burke, who plays Bellas
agitated and overprotective pop, a heavy
exhalation of breath is generally all it takes
to get the devoted giggling. But in Breaking
Dawn Part 1, I was routinely one of the
gigglers, and not a derisive one. (Well, I
was later, but well get to that.) Absolutely
everything uttered by that sublime
comedienne Anna Kendrick is priceless
assuming that Bella is expecting, Kendricks
Jessica cuts through the romantic hooey
by asking, Who else gets married at 18?
and the wedding toasts are so sharply
edited that one guest after another earns
chuckles. Yet thankfully, the tonal lightness
doesnt abate once Bella and Edward get to
their Brazilian honeymoon retreat. Condon
stages a terrifically amusing montage
demonstrating Bellas pre-coital jitters (she
panics over her outfit and brushes her teeth
with obsessive purpose), and an even better
one after the couples first night together
leaves Bella bruised and Edward gun-shy;
Bellas attempts
at seducing
her new hubby
are riotously
awkward. (Its
a pleasure,
and a huge
relief, watching
Stewart and
Pattinson do
more than
smolder and
pine.)
Yet all honeymoons must come to
an end. And when Bellas and Edwards
does, so, too, does the movies; Bella
discovers shes with child, and all of the
traditional Twilight failings that had been
successfully skirted the mopey stares,
the endless debates, the climaxs tiresome
vampire-versus-werewolf scuffle, the
maudlin ballads on the soundtrack, the
distractingly weak CGI, Taylor Lautner
come immediately flooding back. Oh, and
dont expect anything in the way of a joke
in the films second half ... unless, like me,
you find yourself practically doubled over
during the powerfully awful scene in which
the werewolves growl at each other while
conversing telepathically, a sequence that
might stand as the most unintentionally
hysterical one this series has yet offered.
Theres still time, of course, for this
concluding chapter to rally. (Michael Sheen
and Dakota Fanning are returning for Part
2, yes?) But for now, The Twilight Saga:
Breaking Dawn is just more of the same,
and especially disappointing for initially
delivering so much more than that.
HAPPY FEET TWO
As follow-ups go, director George
Millers Happy Feet Two is much like
the polar opposite and I use that term
deliberately of the latest Twilight release:
mostly underwhelming in its first half, and
mostly sensational, even brilliant, in its
second. I found 2006s original, Oscar-
winning Happy Feet all but unbearable,
given its time-wasting musical numbers,
lazy pop-culture riffs, strident ecological
moralizing, and Robin Williams perversely
allowed to voice not one but two irritating
flightless waterfowl. And thats all
accounted for in Millers sequel, too. But
in this visually stunning outing, we also
get scenes of outrageous slapstick, a deeply
moving partnership-among-the-species
finale, Hank Azaria as a heavily-accented
Swedish puffin, a baby penguin offering a
burst of grand opera, and, best of all, Brad
Pitt and Matt Damon as a pair of sweetly
squabbling krill. The former aches to
move up the food chain (I wanna chew
on something with a face!), the latter
just yearns for peace and babies with the
former (Well adopt!), and together,
they add laugh-til-you-cry hilarity to
Millers less ambitious yet ultimately more
satisfying animated adventure. Near the
films end, Pitts Will describes dancing as
a momentary relief from the existential
terrors of existence, simplifying the
sentiment for Damons Bill as it brings out
my happy. Ditto Happy Feet Two.
Follow Mike on Twitter at Twitter.com/
MikeSchulzNow.
by Mike Schulz mike@rcreader.com by Mike Schulz mike@rcreader.com
Listen to Mike every Friday at 9am on R0CK 104-9 FM with 0ave & 0arren
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in The
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
eIIa / 7he rawI
Movie Reviews
by Mike Schulz mike@rcreader.com
life.
Chinas history to me is almost like
another character ... , she said. In both
novels, especially the second one, I saw
peoples commitment to things in the face of
great turmoil and difficulty and threats.
One of the striking things about
Caldwells prose is its authenticity; she
balances narrative and detail in a way that
makes obvious that she knows the China of
her books the geography, everyday life,
pivotal events without showing off.
Take, for instance, this early passage in
Distant Land, in which the narrator Anna
recalls a scene from her youth with eager
eyes: On our left were the jetties, where
coolies unloaded barges and ships and
cranes hovered overhead. In the street,
trams rattled past us and cars fought for
space while rickshaws wove around them.
The coolies who pulled them never looked
up, and their long black queues of hair
looked like braided whips on the bare
skin of their backs. On the sidewalks were
hawkers, some of them offering to polish
my fathers shoes, others holding things out
for sale, things like fountain pens, Chinese
VoI. 19 No. 792
Nov. 23 - 0ec. 7, 2011
River Cities Reader
532 W. 3rd St.
Davenport IA 52801
RiverCitiesReader.com
(563)324-0049 (phone)
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Publishing since 1993
The River Cities Reader is an independent newspaper
published every other Thursday, and available free
throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.
2011 River Cities Reader
AD DEADLINE:
5 p.m. Wednesday prior to publication
PUBLISHER
Todd McGreevy
EDITOR
Kathleen McCarthy
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor: Jeff Ignatius jeff@rcreader.com
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0
iven that her Novem-
ber 30 lecture at St.
Ambrose University is
titled Finding Faith & Fiction
in China, it seems odd that
author Bo Caldwell has never
actually been to the country.
Once you know her story,
though, the title of the lecture
(being presented as part of the
schools academic-year-long
China Project) makes more
sense. Caldwell might not have
found faith and fiction in the
physical China, but she did in
a China that has disappeared
the place where her
grandparents and uncle lived
and worked in the first half of
the 20th Century.
I was writing about a China
that was long ago, Caldwell
explained in an interview
last month. And the country
and the city of Shanghai have
changed so dramatically. ... I
didnt feel like it would help me that much
to go there.
She added that China has a connection
in a home-like way. Thats where my
grandparents spent much of their lives. Its
where my mom and her siblings grew up.
Chinese things when I was a kid felt like
home in a weird way.
The Distant Land of My Father was
published in 2001 and follows the outline
of her uncles life in Shanghai how he
lost his wealth and almost his life during a
tumultuous time. Last years City of Tranquil
Light is based on the experiences of her
missionary grandparents in China.
That makes clear how Caldwell found
fiction in China. But faith was a function
of breast cancer and its treatment, both of
which changed the nature of the book that
would become City of Tranquil Light.
For both novels, she had a wealth of
family material to draw from: transcripts
of tapes her uncle made, and a privately
published memoir her grandfather wrote.
Those were augmented by historical
research into both China and missionary
slippers, cold drinks,
pomelos, and small green
bananas that you would
never eat without washing
and maybe boiling. And
there were the beggars, all
ages, all of them missing
something a few teeth,
a leg, an arm, an eye, a
nose. They hunched in
doorways, they crouched
along the curb, they stood
in the street, ahead of us,
behind us, next to to us, in
our steps, everywhere, all of
them demanding cumshaw,
at least a few dragon
coppers.
The memoir-style
structure lends the
characters a certain flatness,
but Caldwells even tone
gives the tale a panoramic
elegance, Publishers Weekly
wrote. Though lacking in
narrative vitality, the novel is
interesting from a historical perspective and
vivid with details of prewar Shanghai and
Los Angeles.
Caldwell said she began her research with
historical books about Shanghai but found
that memoirs were the best resources and
that there were plenty of them. Doing
Shanghai was like researching Paris or New
York in the 30s, she said. Memoirs are
gold for a novelist. ... Thats where they talk
about the parties they went to, and where
they ate, and what they ate, and the streets
and houses, and what furniture they bought
... . I read that and Id get really excited.
Because then you get to be God. ... You get
to build this house, and put in whatever you
want, and you plant a eucalyptus tree. ... Its
a high.
After Distant Land, Caldwell began a
novel set in 1953 London. She got 30 pages
into it, but struggled. She dedicated a day to
see how far she could get with it.
And about 3 oclock in the afternoon, she
said, it was as though something inside me
said, Go back to China. And I knew what
BOOKS
Go Back to China
Bo Caldwell, November 30 at St. Ambrose Universitys Rogalski Center
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
0ALLRY VN75
Weekly Events
Thursdays at the Figge, on Thursdays; art-
themed activities, discussions, tours, refreshments,
and more; for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge
Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://
www.figgeartmuseum.org, 5pm Thu Nov 24 thru
Thu Feb 23.
Figge Exhibition Tour, on Sundays; a docent-led
tour providing an introduction to each exhibition,
plus highlights of works; hot chocolate available;
free with museum admission; for information, call
563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St,
Davenport, IA, http://figgeart.org, 1:30pm Sun Nov
27 thru Sun Feb 26.
November & December
Christkindlmarkt at GAHC, German-made
holiday treats and gifts sure to please everyone
on your list this year; Tue.-Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun.
noon-4pm; extended holiday hours Dec. 20-22
10am-7pm; for information, call 563-322-8844,
German American Heritage Center, 712 W. 2nd St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.gahc.org, Wed Nov 23
thru Thu Dec 22.
Festivus for the Rest of Us, annual art
marketplace; for information, call 309-786-2430,
Midcoast at Bucktown Gallery, Bucktown Center
for the Arts, Davenport, IA, http://www.midcoast.
org/galleries/bucktown.htm, Wed Nov 23 thru Sat
Dec 31.
Be Thankful for Art Night, bring in an item
from our wish list and enjoy free drop-in art; for
information, e-mail angie@reusableusables.org
or call 563-289-3946, Reusable Usables Creative
Arts Center, 322 N. Cody, LeClaire, IA, http://www.
reusableusables.org, 3pm Fri Nov 25.
Final Fridays at Bucktown, exhibits,
demonstrations, and more, Bucktown Center for
the Arts, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
bucktownarts.com, 6pm Fri Nov 25.
Free Admission to the Grant Wood Studio,
Saturdays & Sundays, noon-4pm; free admission
during the year, thanks to a grant from the Esther
and Robert Armstrong Charitable Trust; for
information, call 319-366-7503, Grant Wood Studio,
810 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.
org, 12pm Sat Nov 26 thru Sat Dec 31.
Black Hawk College International Holiday
Bazaar, featuring works by jewelry-makers, artists,
and other handicraft vendors; in the lower lobby;
proceeds support the BHC International/English
as a Second Language Scholarship Program; for
information, contact Juanita Zertuche at zertuchej@
bhc.edu or 309-796-5186, Black Hawk College
- Quad City Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline, IL,
http://www.bhc.edu, 8am Wed Nov 30.
Rembrandt as a Printmaker, presentation
with guest speaker Tom Rassieur, John E.
Andrus III Curator of Prints and Drawings for the
Minneapolis Institute of Arts; refreshments served;
for information, call 309-794-7231, Larson Hall -
Augustana College, Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts,
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
augustana.edu, 7:30pm Wed Nov 30.
Holiday Family Event at the Figge,
create fun, decorative, delicious gingerbread
houses, and give yourselves the gift of hand
printed cards and festive gift paper; $15-20;
for information and to register, call Heather at
563-326-7804, ext. 2045, or e-mail haaronson@
figgeartmuseum.org, Figge Art Museum, 225 W
2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org,
6pm Thu Dec 1.
The Contemporary Face of Portraiture, join
CRMA Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Sean
Ulmer for a PowerPoint presentation on some of
the contemporary directions in portraiture; free;
for information, call 319-366-7503, Cedar Rapids
Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave., Cedar Rapids, IA,
http://www.crma.org, 7pm Thu Dec 1.
W(h)ine & Art, this two hour studio activity
will provide a relaxed, creative outlet without
the pressure of a committed class schedule; each
month will feature a different artistic project
taught by local Quad Cities artists; participants
can learn painting, sculpture, printmaking,
and more while enjoying a glass of wine and
light hors doeuvres; $15; for information and
to register, contact Heather at haaronson@
figgeartmuseum.org or 563-326-7804 ext. 2045,
Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA,
http://figgeart.org, 6pm Thu Dec 1.
Exhibit Reception: Senior Honors
Exhibition, exhibit featuring works by Art
majors; free; for information, contact Heather
Lovewell at 563-209-1287 or LovewellHeatherL@
sau.edu, Catich Gallery - St. Ambrose University,
2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://web.sau.
edu/catich, 5pm Fri Dec 2.
Figge Art Museum Annual Member Dinner,
reserve by Dec. 2 for Dec. 8 event; mingle, enjoy
the galleries, and hear what is planned for the
museum in 2012; $40; for information, call 563-
326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, 6pm Fri
Dec 2.
Gallery Hop!, hosted by MidCoast Fine Arts
and the District; an arts tour of downtown Rock
Island, showcasing local and regional
artists in various galleries; talk with the
artists, watch live demonstrations, and
more; free; for information, call 309-788-
6311, The District of Rock Island, 16 1/2
St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.ridistrict.
com/Events/Events.aspx, 5pm Fri Dec 2.
Opening Reception: Moats & Boats
& Waterfalls, Alleyways & Pay Phone
Calls, featuring the work of Adrianna
Corby, Emma Farber, and Rachel Friemel,
senior students graduating with honors;
for information, contact Heather Lovewell
at 563-209-1287 or LovewellHeatherL@
sau.edu, Catich Gallery - St. Ambrose
University, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA,
http://web.sau.edu/catich, 5pm Fri Dec 2.
Glenview Middle School Craft &
Vendor Show, booths featuring over
40 vendors, a concession stand, raffles,
50/50s, and more; for information,
e-mail Eddie at gotmichebag@yahoo.com,
Glenview Middle School, East Moline, IL,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.
php?eid=118770014873404, 10am Sat Dec 3.
Handmade City Holiday 2011 Art & Crafts
Show, sewn goods, pottery, knits, screen-prints,
plush, pet goodies, paper goods, jewelry, posters,
giveaways, zines, and more handmade works by
more than 20 Quad City-based vendors; free;
for information, e-mail info@rozztox.com, Rozz-
Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
handmadecity.org, 11am Sat Dec 3.
Art Bites: Community Portraiture, join
CRMA Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Sean Ulmer for a discussion of community
portraiture in the CRMAs exhibition Seeing &
Remembering: Portraits & Their Stories; free;
http://www.crma.org, 12:15pm Wed Dec 7.
Artist Gallery Talk: Alison Filley, Iowa
City artist will discuss her work and process;
a brief Q&A will follow; free; for information,
contact Joseph Lappie at 563-333-6150 or
Lappiejosephd@sau.edu, Galvin Fine Arts
Center, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.thebakerygallery.blogspot.com, 3pm Fri
Dec 9.
Opening Reception - Alison Filley: New
Works, exhibition of new mixed-media prints
by the Iowa City artist; refreshments served;
free; for information, contact Joseph Lappie at
563-333-6150 or Lappiejosephd@sau.edu, The
Bakery Gallery, 1330 East 12th St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.thebakerygallery.blogspot.com,
6pm Fri Dec 9.
Christmas Wine Walk, featuring wine to
taste and art to buy, Bucktown Center for the
Arts, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
bucktownarts.com, 6pm Fri Dec 16.
Candyland: Art, Body Art, & Vintage
Fashion Show, featuring live body painting by
Nicole Cisne Durbin, Heidi Sallows, and Sarah
Robb; $15-20; 18 & older admitted w/ photo I.D.;
for information and tickets, call 562-477-4865,
Village Theatre, 2113 E 11th St, Village of East
2011-12 Winter CaIendar
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Davenport, IA, http://www.yelorobn.com, 6pm
Sat Dec 17.
demonstrations, and more, Bucktown Center
for the Arts, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.bucktownarts.com, 6pm Fri Dec 30.
January & February
Recognition Ceremony - Young Artists at the
Figge: Muscatine Community Schools, at 12:30 &
1pm; works by area student artists; for information,
call 563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, 12:30pm
Sun Jan 15.
bucktownarts.com, 6pm Fri Jan 27.
Exhibit Reception: Sensing Language, exhibit
featuring book arts and installations by Melissa
Jay Craig; free; for information, call 563-333-6444,
Catich Gallery - St. Ambrose University, 2101 Gaines
St., Davenport, IA, http://web.sau.edu/catich, 5pm
Fri Jan 27.
Melissa Jay Craig, Chicago book artist will
discuss her education and career as an artist,
current work and influences, and future direction;
held in conjunction with Craigs exhibit Sensing
Language; for information, contact Heather
Lovewell at 563-209-1287 or LovewellHeatherL@
sau.edu, Catich Gallery - St. Ambrose University,
2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://web.sau.edu/
catich, 5pm Fri Jan 27.
Recognition Ceremony - Young Artists at
the Figge: North Scott Community Schools,
at 12:30 & 1pm; works by area student artists; for
information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum,
225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.
org, 12:30pm Sun Feb 12.
bucktownarts.com, 6pm Fri Feb 24.
Recognition Ceremony - Young Artists at the
Figge: Davenport Community Schools, at 12:30 &
1pm; works by area student artists; for information,
call 563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, 12:30pm
Sun Feb 26.
XHll75
Currently on Display
Cultural Stories, mixed-media and multi-
media works by Lisa Marie Barber of Kenosha,
WI, and Gabriella Boros of Skokie, IL; Tue-Fri
10am-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm; for information, call
309-793-1213, ext. 108, Quad City Arts Center,
1715 2nd Ave, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
quadcityarts.com, thru Wed Nov 23.
Artists Unlimited Exhibit, 9am-8pm
Monday through Wednesday, 9am-5pm
Friday and Saturday; for information, call 309-
732-7323, Rock Island Public Library - Main
Library, 401 19th, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
rockislandlibrary.org, thru Wed Nov 30.
Jerri Crabtree-Frisk - Margery Franklin, oils
by Crabtree-Frisk, photography by Franklin; for
information, call 309-786-2430, MidCoast Centre
Station Gallery, 1200 River Dr, Moline, IL, http://
www.midcoast.org/galleries/centerstation.htm,
thru Wed Nov 30.
John Schwartzkopf, Cedar Rapids
woodworker and furniture-maker presents
recent work; for information, call 319-364-1580,
CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids,
IA, http://www.legionarts.org, thru Wed Nov 30.
Caroline Englands Cape Coral @ Quad City
Arts Art at the Quad City International Airport
through December 27
Judy Gray, pastels, MidCoast Fine Arts Gallery,
Mississippi Valley Welcome Center, I-80 and US
Highway 67, LeClaire, IA, http://www.midcoast.
org/galleries/leclaire.htm, thru Wed Nov 30.
Naidine DAngelo, multi-media; for information,
call 309-786-2430, MidCoast at the i wireless Center,
1201 River Dr., Moline, IL, http://www.midcoast.
org/galleries/iwireless.htm, thru Wed Nov 30.
Peter Thompson Paintings, Cedar Rapids artist
and Coe College art professor shows paintings of
live musicians; for information, call 319-364-1580,
CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St
SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.
legionarts.org, thru Wed Nov 30.
Sun Hee Cho Oberfoell, bronze
sculpture and wall reliefs by Iowa
City artist; for information, call 319-
364-1580, CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103
3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, http://
www.legionarts.org, thru Wed Nov
30.
Sarojini Jha Johnson: Prints
and Books, works by the Indiana-
based artist; for information,
contact Joseph Lappie at 563-333-
6150 or Lappiejosephd@sau.edu,
The Bakery Gallery, 1330 East 12th
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
thebakerygallery.blogspot.com, thru Sat Dec 3.
The Mississippi River: An American Dream
from Border to Border, exhibit of photography
and reflections of renowned author and professor
Dr. Abdul K. Sinno and his sons Rafic and Omar;
featuring over 60 panoramic photographs of
river towns and cities along the rivers 2,300-mile
stretch; for information, call 563-872-3388 or e-mail
offthewallartgallery@gmail.com, The Great River
Gallery, 116 N. Riverview, Bellevue, IA, thru Sun
Dec 4.
Affirmation of Bewildered Self-Disclosure,
prints, paintings, and mixed media works by Lauren
Sciascia; for information, contact Zaiga Thorson
at thorsonz@bhc.edu or 309-796-5469, ArtSpace
Gallery, 6600 34th Ave., Building 4, Black Hawk
College, Moline, IL, http://www.bhc.edu, thru Fri
Dec 9.
Graphic Language: The Art and Literature
of Comics, exhibit or original comic art, including
works by Winsor McCay, Milton Caniff, Steve Ditko,
Jack Kirby, Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack
Davis, Johnny Craig, Bernard Krigstein, Robert
Crumb, Kim Deitch, Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel,
Gilbert Hernandez, Jessica Abel, Jeff lemire, and
Dan Clowes; with historic prints by Blake, Goya,
Hogarth, and Picasso; Tue., Wed., & Fri. 10am-
5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sat & Sun noon-5pm; for
information, call 319-335-1742, University of Iowa
Museum of Art, 150 N. Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA,
http://www.uima.uiowa.edu, thru Sun Dec 11.
By Hand, exhibit showcases Leslie Bells
collection of hand-lettered commercial product,
which showcases lettering and illustration done
on commercial products from the 1920s to the
1940s; free; for information, contact Keri Rursch
at kerirursch@augstuana.edu or 309-794-7721,
Thomas Tredway Library, Augustana College, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu, thru Fri Dec
16.
Four Artists For All Seasons, exhibit featuring
Corrine Smiths paintings, vessels by Mary, The
Chait Galleries Downtown, 218 E Washington St,
Iowa City, IA, http://www.thegalleriesdowntown.
com, thru Fri Dec 16.
Faces from the Figge, a video animation of faces
selected from the Figge Art Museums collection
of paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures,
compiled by Bruce Walters; for information, call
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, thru Sun
Dec 18.
Caroline England - Yale Factor - Pam Ohnemus
- Liquid Fire Artists, watercolor paintings by
England, intricate oil paintings by Factor, acrylic
paintings by Ohnemus, and blown-glass works by
Liquid Fire glass artists; for information, call 309-
793-1213, ext. 108, Quad City Arts at the Airport,
Quad City International Airport, Airport Rd, Moline,
IL, http://www.quadcityarts.com, thru Tue Dec 27.
Grant Wood: In Focus, culled from the museums
extensive collection of works, this single-gallery
installation serves as a brief overview of the artistic
achievements of this important American painter;
http://www.crma.org, thru Fri Dec 30.
Novel Nutcrackers: The Tale of a German
Christmas Tradition, exhibit featuring over 100
nutcrackers that explores
the history, production, and
folklore of one of our favorite
symbols of the season;
featuring interactive activities
for kids; Tue.-Sat. 10am-4pm,
Sun. noon-4pm; extended
holiday hours Dec. 20-22
10am-7pm; for information,
call 563-322-8844, German
American Heritage Center,
712 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.gahc.org, thru Fri
Dec 30.
Treasures from the
National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library Collection,
examples of fine, folk, and decorative art, textiles
embellished with beads and embroidery, costumes,
fine Royal Dux porcelain pieces, glass and crystal,
and more; for information, call 319-366-7503, Cedar
Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave., Cedar Rapids,
IA, http://www.crma.org, thru Fri Dec 30.
An American Masterpiece: Charles Willson
Peales George Washington, Peales second full-
scale life portrait of Washington, and the first
to portray him as commander and chief of the
Continental Army; various aspects of the portrait
will be investigated; for information, call 319-366-
7503, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave.,
Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.org, thru Sat
Dec 31.
Diane Bruce - Lori Miller, mixed media by
Bruce, fiber works by Miller; for information, call
309-786-2430, MidCoast at the RiverCenter, 136 E.
3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.midcoast.org/
galleries/rivercenter.htm, thru Sat Dec 31.
Elemental, works by Emily Christenson,
Steve Banks, Matt Pulford, and Terry Rathje; for
information, call 309-786-2430, MidCoast Gallery
West, 2nd Ave & 16 1/2 St, Rock Island, IL, http://
www.midcoast.org/galleries/gallerywest.htm, thru
Sat Dec 31.
Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, quilting
exhibit; free with museum admission; Mon.-Sat.
10am-4pm, Sun. noon-4pm; free with $1-5 museum
admission; for information call Beth at 309-794-
0991 x 30 or e-mail vs@qcgardens.com, Quad City
Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.qcgardens.com, thru Sat Dec 31.
A Fairy Tale Christmas, exhibit featuring 23
trees, each one decorated to represent a different
fairy tale; open 9am-5pm; for information, call
319-643-5301, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library
& Museum, Off I-80 at exit 254, West Branch, IA,
http://www.hoover.nara.gov, thru Mon Jan 2.
Small Works Show 2011, featuring over 55
local and regional artists and over 100 pieces
showcasing unique works, including pastels by
Gordon Kellenberger, watercolor work by Brad
Krieger, ceramic sculpture from Elizabeth Shriver,
oil paintings by Tam Bodkin Bryk, and more; Mon.-
Fri. 11am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-4pm; for
information, call 319-338-4442, The Chait Galleries
Downtown, 218 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA,
http://www.thegalleriesdowntown.com, thru Wed
Jan 4.
2011 College Invitational, exhibition features
more than 40 works of art by students working in a
variety of mediums, including book arts, ceramics,
drawing, metalwork, painting, photography,
printmaking, sculpture, and video; participating
institutions include Augustana College, Black Hawk
College, Knox College, Monmouth College, Scott
Community College, St. Ambrose University, and
Western Illinois University; free with $4-7 museum
admission; for information, call 563-326-7804,
http://www.figgeartmuseum.org, thru Sun Jan 8.
Turn of the Century Posters from the Krannert
Art Museum Collection, works by Pierre Bonnard,
Alphonse Mucha, Jan Toorop, Henri de Toulouse-
Lautrec, and others illustrates how artists utilized
lithography for different purposes and with varying
regional stylistic characteristics; Tue.-Sat. 10am-
5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm; free with
$4-$7 museum admission; for information, call
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeartmuseum.org,
thru Sun Jan 8.
Everything, All at Once, Forever, an installation
of new plastic debris sculptures by Brooklyn-based
contemporary artist Aurora Robson; free with $4-$7
museum admission; for information, call 563-326-
7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport,
IA, http://www.figgeartmuseum.org, thru Sat Jan
14.
Dario Robleto: Survival Does Not Lie in the
Heavens, mixed-media exhibit by San Antonio
native, featuring 13 large-scale two- and three-
dimensional works and a site-specific piece; for
information, call 515-277-4405, Des Moines Art
Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, http://
www.desmoinesartcenter.org, thru Sun Jan 15.
Seeing and Remembering: Portraits and Their
Stories, exhibit looks at the different genres within
portraiture as seen from the vantage point of the
artist; such concepts as the artist and his patron, the
artist portraying his own family, the artist making
a commemorative portrait of someone he never
met, and the many different situations that give
rise to portraits are considered; free with museum
admission; for information, call 319-366-7503,
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave., Cedar
Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.org, thru Sun Jan 15.
Black White Gray Blue, historical and
contemporary prints and works on paper from
the centers permanent collection, with works
on the Civil War, its causes, and its outcome; for
information, call 515-277-4405, Des Moines Art
Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, http://
www.desmoinesartcenter.org, thru Sun Jan 29.
Restoring the Spirit: Celebrating Haitian
Art, exhibition celebrates Haitis complex visual
traditions and the devotion of artists to creative
endeavors in the face of national adversity; Tue.-Sat.
10am-5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm, Sun. noon-5pm; free
with $4-$7 museum admission; for information, call
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeartmuseum.org,
thru Sun Jan 29.
Soy mi madre (I Am My Mother), Phil Collins
work that portrays the power dynamics that exist
between people of divergent socioeconomic
groups in Latin America through the melodramatic
lens of the telenova; for information, call 515-277-
4405, Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des
Moines, IA, http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org,
thru Sun Jan 29.
Vincent van Gogh and the Psychology of
Portraiture, in the Blank One Gallery; exhibit
spanning over a hundred years and various types
of media, featuring works by Van Gogh, Lucian
Freud, Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, and others;
for information, call 515-277-4405, Des Moines
Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA,
http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/
Psychology-of-Portraiture.aspx, thru Sun Feb 5.
Liberal Arts through the AGES 20112012,
exhibit centers on Augustanas pedagogical
art-history collection in the winter-term liberal
studies program, with works by Magritte, Matisse,
and more; open noon to 4pm Tuesdays through
Saturdays when school is in session; free; for
information, call 309-794-7231, Augustana College
Art Museum, Centennial Hall Building, Rock Island,
IL, http://www.augustana.edu, thru Sat Feb 11.
Grant Wood Artifacts, included in the new
display is the Persephone cameo broach, Woods
trademark glasses along with those belonging to
his father, a copper picture frame made by Wood
containing a photo of Wood in his WWI army
uniform, the Wood family bible, Woods paint
brushes, palette, and easel, and other artifacts from
Woods life; Tue.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm,
Sun. noon-5pm; free with museum admission; for
225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://figgeart.org,
thru Sun Feb 12.
Beyond the Surface: WPA Works of Charles
Turzak, exhibit in which Turzaks woodblock prints
capture the story of pivotal moments and people in
Illinois history; Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm,
Sun noon-5pm; free with $4-7 museum admission;
for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art
Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.
figgeart.org, thru Sun Feb 26.
Worldmaking: The Art of Robert Kameczura,
painting exhibit; for information, call 309-762-9202
or e-mail thephoenixegg@gmail.com, Phoenix
Art Gallery, 1530 5th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.
atthephoenix.com, thru Tue Feb 28.
A Sense of Place, an exhibit of fifty black and
white photographs of rural and small town Iowa
by photographer David Plowden dating from the
mid-1980s; free; for information, call 319-643-2541,
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, off I-80 at exit
254, West Branch, IA, http://www.nps.gov/heho,
thru Wed Feb 29.
Art in Roman Life, over 50 works, including
coins, glass vessels, ceramic lamps, marble
sculptures, and more; for information, call 319-366-
7503, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave.,
Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.org, thru Wed
Feb 29.
Augustana College Art Museum Collection,
featuring new acquisitions for the fall term; open
noon to 4pm Tuesdays through Saturdays when
school is in session; free; for information, call
309-794-7231, Augustana College Art Museum,
Centennial Hall Building, Rock Island, IL, http://
www.augustana.edu, thru Wed Feb 29.
Mauricio Lasansky, new takes on the important
Iowa City artist; for information, call 319-366-7503,
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave., Cedar
Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.org, thru Wed Feb 29.
Grant Wood: In Focus, culled from the museums
extensive collection of works, this single-gallery
installation serves as a brief overview of the artistic
achievements of this important American painter;
http://www.crma.org, thru Wed Feb 29.
Treasures from the National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library Collection, examples of fine,
folk, and decorative art, textiles embellished with
beads and embroidery, costumes, fine Royal Dux
porcelain pieces, glass and crystal, and more;
http://www.crma.org, thru Wed Feb 29.
Muscatine and the Civil War: A
Sesquicentennial Commemoration, exhibit will
highlight Muscatine Art Center Civil War collections
as well as letters from area soldiers Daniel J. Parvin
and Charles T. Ruger; for information, call 563-263-
8282, Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Ave.,
Muscatine, IA, thru Wed Feb 29.
Olson-Brandelle North American Indian Art
Collection, featuring installments on each floor of
the library, with explanatory text panels; open noon
to 4pm Tuesdays through Saturdays when school is
in session; free; for information, call 309-794-7469,
Thomas Tredway Library, Augustana College, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu, thru Wed
Feb 29.
Raising Expectations, exhibit for which
University of Iowa jewelry professor Kee-Ho Yuen
selected an eclectic mix of functional and sculptural
metal pieces made by members of the Iowa Metals
Guild; the works explore, Cedar Rapids Museum of
Art, 410 Third Ave., Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.
crma.org, thru Wed Feb 29.
The American Century, highlighting the many
movements of 20th Century art; for information,
call 319-366-7503, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art,
410 Third Ave., Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.crma.
Robert Kameczuras As
Time Goes by @ Phoenix
Fine Art Gallery through
February 28
org, thru Wed Feb 29.
Opening in November & December
Moats & Boats & Waterfalls, Alleyways &
Pay Phone Calls, featuring the work of Adrianna
Corby, Emma Farber, and Rachel Friemel, senior
students graduating with honors; Mon.-Fri. 9am-
5pm; for information, contact Heather Lovewell
at 563/209-1287 or LovewellHeatherL@sau.edu,
Catich Gallery - St. Ambrose University, 2101
Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://web.sau.edu/
catich, Tue Nov 29 thru Fri Dec 16.
Senior Honors Exhibition, works by Art
majors; Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm; free; for information,
contact Heather Lovewell at 563-209-1287 or
LovewellHeatherL@sau.edu, Catich Gallery - St.
Ambrose University, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport,
IA, http://web.sau.edu/catich, Tue Nov 29 thru
Fri Dec 16.
Belinda Grace - Karen Blomme, photography
by Grace, printmaking by Blomme; for
information, call 309-786-2430, MidCoast Centre
Station Gallery, 1200 River Dr, Moline, IL, http://
www.midcoast.org/galleries/centerstation.htm,
Thu Dec 1 thru Tue Jan 31.
Bryan Davis, intaglio; for information, call 309-
786-2430, MidCoast at the i wireless Center, 1201
River Dr., Moline, IL, http://www.midcoast.org/
galleries/iwireless.htm, Thu Dec 1 thru Tue Jan 31.
Nancy Lindsay, oils, MidCoast Fine Arts
Gallery, Mississippi Valley Welcome Center, I-80
and US Highway 67, LeClaire, IA, http://www.
midcoast.org/galleries/leclaire.htm, Thu Dec 1
thru Tue Jan 31.
Alison Filley: New Works, exhibition of new
mixed-media prints by the Iowa City artist; Tue.-
Sat. 7-9pm; free; for information, contact Joseph
lappie at 563-333-6150 or Lappiejosephd@
sau.edu, The Bakery Gallery, 1330 East 12th St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.thebakerygallery.
blogspot.com, Wed Dec 7 thru Sat Jan 21.
In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice
Sendak, traveling exhibit featuring illustrations
of ferocious creatures, curious children, and
vibrant neighborhoods, alongside thematic
explorations of the Jewish culture and history,
and Sendaks own family experience, that
influenced Sendaks work; for information, call
309-524-2470, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st
St, Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com,
Wed Dec 28 thru Fri Feb 24.
Opening in January & February
Young Artists at the Figge: Muscatine
Community Schools, works by student artists; Tue-
Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm;
free with $4-7 museum admission; for information,
call 563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, Sat Jan
14 thru Sun Jan 22.
Sensing Language, book arts and installations
by Melissa Jay Craig; Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm; free; for
information, call 563-333-6444, Catich Gallery - St.
Ambrose University, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport,
IA, http://web.sau.edu/catich, Tue Jan 17 thru
Wed Feb 29.
Fins and Feathers: Childrens Book
Illustrations from the Eric Carle Museum of
Picture Book Art, featuring 43 original illustrations
from the late 19th century through today, the
exhibition introduces viewers of all ages to a
host of memorable fish, birds and other creatures
whose exploits and adventures echo the concerns
of children and bring them to life in an enjoyable
way; Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sun
noon-5pm; free with $4-7 museum admission; for
225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.
org, Sat Jan 21 thru Wed Feb 29.
Young Artists at the Figge: North Scott
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, Sat Jan
28 thru Sun Feb 12.
Beyond the Surface: WPA Works of Charles
Turzak, works by Karl Blossfeldt, Josef Sudek,
Kenneth Josephson, Toshio Shibata, Eliot
Porter, Jerry Uelsmann, Pail Caponigro, Eduard
Stieglitz,Edward Steichen, John Guttmann, Joel-
Peter Witkin, Sebastiao Salgado, Alvin Langdon
Coburn, Joel Sternfeld, Carl Chiarenza, John
Gutmann and Imogen Cunningham; Tue-Sat
10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm; free
with $4-7 museum admission; for information, call
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, Sat Feb 4
thru Wed Feb 29.
Locating Place, works by Karl Blossfeldt, Josef
Sudek, Kenneth Josephson, Toshio Shibata, Eliot
Porter, Jerry Uelsmann, Pail Caponigro, Eduard
Stieglitz,Edward Steichen, John Guttmann, Joel-
Peter Witkin, Sebastiao Salgado, Alvin Langdon
Coburn, Joel Sternfeld, Carl Chiarenza, John
Gutmann and Imogen Cunningham; Tue-Sat
10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm; free
with $4-7 museum admission; for information, call
Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, Sat Feb 4
thru Wed Feb 29.
Lure of the Local: Collecting the Corridor,
2006-2011, exhibit featuring works by area artists
such as Dick Pinney, Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret,
Fred Easker, Stan Wiederspan, and many others;
http://www.crma.org, Sat Feb 4 thru Wed Feb 29.
Young Artists at the Figge: Davenport
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, Sat Feb
18 thru Wed Feb 29.
CLA555
Ongoing
Drawing & Clay Sculpting With Paul
Algueseva, on Thursdays; $5 plus materials; for
information, call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport,
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 12:30pm Thu Nov
24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Make-and-Take Blowing Class, on Thursdays &
Saturdays; intensive introduction to glass blowing;
perfect for those with no experience who just want
to try it and take a keepsake home with them;
$30; for information, call 563-470-4952 or e-mail
classes@lizzardglass.com, Lizzard Glass, 314 E. 3rd
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.lizzardglass.com,
6pm Thu Nov 24 thru Sat Dec 31.
Ceramics - Beginners, on Mondays; $5 for
members; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
(Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road,
Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 9:30am
Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Donna Dewberry One Stroke Painting, on
Mondays; learn to load brushes & strokes for roses,
daisies, lilacs, hydrangeas, pansies, wild flowers
and assortment of leaves; supplies furnished; $4;
for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center for
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 12:30pm Mon Nov
28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Drawing & Clay Sculpting With Paul
Algueseva, on Mondays; $6 plus materials; for
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 6:30pm Mon Nov
28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Sewing Ugly Quilts, on Mondays; free; for
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 8am Mon Nov 28
thru Mon Dec 26.
Ceramics - Advanced/Beginners, on Tuesdays,
at 9:30am & 1:30pm; $5 for 1/2 day or $8 for a
full day; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, Tue Nov
29 thru Tue Dec 27.
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5
ome grandmas, during the holiday
season, will give toys as presents. Oth-
ers will give clothes.
Connie Corcoran Wilson, though, is giving
her granddaughters a book ... that she wrote
and published herself.
Its my Christmas gift to the girls, says
Wilson of her new childrens book Christmas
Cats in Silly Hats, the second self-published
work by the much-published local author. I
wrote it for them, and thought it would be a
nice present.
Of course, she says with a laugh,
marketing-wise, I didnt think it would be
such a dumb thing, either. You might not rush
out to buy it in July, but in December ... !
As Christmas Cats was designed especially
for the two-year-old twins Ava and Elise,
Wilsons book is one that can be easily
understood and enjoyed by kids their age:
24 pages of simple rhymes, bright colors,
and cheerful pictures of kitties wearing such
chapeaus as a chef s hat, a firemans hat,
and a crown. (Sillier silly hats come in the
form of socks and reindeer antlers.) Yet in
addition to being a Christmas present for her
granddaughters, Christmas Cats is also, as
Wilson suggests, a bit of one for herself.
A childrens book was one of the
things I hadnt done, says the former area
schoolteacher and current freelance author.
Ive always felt I could write anything, and
my goal was to write one of everything. I dont
want to be pigeonholed as just writing this,
this, or this. I want to keep stretching.
To date, Wilsons literary stretching has
resulted in, among other works, a three-
volume set of ghost stories (2009s Ghostly
Tales of Route 66 series), two books of
humor essays (2004s Both Sides Now and
2011s Laughing Through Life), and this past
summers It Came from the 70s: From The
Godfather to Apocalypse Now, a collection of
reviews written by Wilson during her tenure
as the Quad-City Times
chief movie-reviewer.
Yet until Christmas
Cats, no works for
kids. And it had to be
checked off the list, says
Wilson.
The books initial
inspiration, however,
came long before Ava
and Elise were born. It
was 2004, says Wilson.
I was just starting into
semi-retirement. And
originally, the idea came
because I had two cats
a new cat and an old
cat and they werent
getting along. They were
fighting all the time. And
really, it had nothing to
do with anything else.
I watched them fight and thought, Thats a
book.
The only hurdle that Wilson foresaw was
that a childrens book needed illustrations,
and as she says, I do not draw. (She laughs.
Well just leave it at that.) But she found a
willing collaborator in Andy Weinert, the son
of one of Wilsons former students.
I just loved Andys drawings, says Wilson.
He had this charming, Grandma Moses style,
and drew these beautiful, funny sketches.
Upon its completion, Wilson says she
found a publishing house that was eager
to take on the work. Yet before it could be
published, as Wilson tells it, the publishing
house lost all the sketches. I never found out
how, but they lost them.
And I had scans of
Andys drawings on my
computer but was told
that the pixels on some
of them couldnt be
brought up enough for
them to be re-created
properly.
After that, she says,
quite frankly, I didnt
want to mess with it
anymore. I was just very
demoralized, and stuck
the book in a drawer.
Cut to earlier this
year, and the inspiration
of Ava and Elise. The
idea came up again
when one of them had
bitten the other one on
the nose, and left marks.
They were not playing well, says Wilson
with a laugh. The twin thing wasnt going as
smoothly as it should have.
But it occurred to me that this was like
my cats who were always fighting. And I
thought maybe the book could be tweaked
so that it would have a moral lesson, if you
will, for youngsters. That you shouldnt bite,
and you should learn to share the cats could
underscore a lesson that needed to be learned.
BOOKS
And we could release it for Christmas.
A few of Weinerts original sketches
were replicated from Wilsons computer
scans. But with the illustrator busy with
grad-school studies, the Christmas Cats
author had to find someone else to complete
the rest of the books artwork and did,
via the unexpected artistic talents of her
granddaughters Venezuelan au pair, Emily
Marquez.
She had never drawn anything in her life
for anybody, except for fun, says Wilson, but
I think her pictures are absolutely charming.
And I love that Emilys a part of this book,
because her visa is up in March, and lately
shes been very teary, saying, The girls wont
even remember me! But now, in a way, shell
always be there for them.
I think it has a good message for kids
of any age, says Wilson of Christmas Cats
in Silly Hats, and Im pleased with it. But
really, its meant as a labor of love for the
granddaughters who need to learn to share
and get along. Of course, Im also hoping
the book has some broader application for a
broader audience.
In my dedication, she says with a laugh,
I say that maybe extra copies should be sent
to Congress.
Connie Corcoran Wilson will sign and sell her
recent books including Christmas Cats in
Silly Hats at Rock Islands Atlante Trattoria
restaurant during the December 2 Gallery Hop,
at Davenports Barnes & Noble on December
3 and 10, and at the Bettendorf Public Library
on December 7. For more information, visit
ConnieCWilson.com.
By Mike Schulz
mike@rcreader.com
Local Author Connie Corcoran Wilson Releases a New Childrens Book for the Holidays
Kitties in the Christmas Stocking
Connie Corcoran Wilson with grand-
daughters Ava and Elise Wilson
Ceramics - Advanced/Beginners, on Tuesdays;
at 9:30am & 1pm; $5 for 1/2 day or $8 for a full day;
for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center for
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, Tue Nov 29 thru
Tue Dec 27.
Crocheting & Knitting Volunteer Class, on
Tuesdays; make hats, scarves & mittens for children
and the homeless; beginners wishing to learn
are welcome; for information, call 563-386-7477,
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly
Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org,
12:30pm Tue Nov 29 thru Dec 27.
December thru February
Bookmaking Workshop III, with instructor
Kim Maher; punch and sew a longstitch binding
that can have a simple or embellished spine; $50-
$60; for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art
figgeartmuseum.org, 10am Sat Dec 3.
Faux Finish Workshop, with instructor Mary
Stringer; give an old table new life and brighten
up your decorating with tips, tricks and techniques
that will help you create the look of wood, marble,
fabric, and more on your walls and furniture; $45-
$55; for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art
figgeartmuseum.org, 10am Sat Jan 21.
Acrylic Painting: Intermediate/Advanced,
Thursdays thru Feb. 23; with instructor Allen
Holloway; $65-75; for information and to register,
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, 6pm
Thu Feb 2.
Quilting Workshop with Beck Wright, register
by Feb. 15 for Feb. 18 course; the Quilt Lady
teaches a workshop using one of her Orphans of
War patterns; for information, call 563-322-8844
or e-mail director@gahc.org, German American
Heritage Center, 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.gahc.org, 1pm Wed Feb 15.
Calligraphy Workshop I: Beginner, with
instructor Amy Nielsen; bring a sack lunch; $50-60;
for information and to register, call 563-326-7804,
http://www.figgeart.org, 9:30am Sat Feb 18.
Upcycled Jewelry Workshop, with instructor
Kara Fedje; $35-45; for information and to register,
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.figgeart.org, 10:30am
Sat Feb 25.
CALL5 F0R N7RY
Handmade City Holiday Show 2011, now
accepting applications for vendors at the annual
handcrafted arts fair, taking place at Rozz-Tox on
December 3, Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island,
IL, http://handmadecity.org, thru Wed Nov 30.
Call for Photos, Videos, & Stories: WIU-
QC 100th Anniversary Celebration, photos/
information and interviews will be used to create a
documentary of WIUs history throughout the years
in the Quad Cities to air on WQPT; WIU University
Television and University historians/archivists will
produce the documentary; slides, photographs,
videos and stories will be collected, copied and
returned to the original owners, who will receive
a photo credit for the contribution(s); electronic
photos and video files are also welcomed; to
contribute, contact Tami Seitz at 309-762-9481 or
TS-Seitz@wiu.edu, Western Illinois University Quad
Cities, 3561 60th St, Moline, IL, http://www.wiu.
edu/qc, thru Fri Dec 30.
Seeking Entries: Mississippi Valley Blues
Festival 2012 T-Shirt & Poster Design, designs
should be appropriate for public display; designs
that are religious, political, sexual in nature, which
bear controversial messages, insignia, or other
material will not be accepted; design, Mississippi
Valley Blues Society, 102 S. Harrison St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.mvbs.org, thru Sun Jan 1.
36th Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition,
seeking submissions for annual juried competition
for artists residing within a 150-mile radius of the
Quad Cities, co-sponsored with the Rock Island
Art Guild; more than $3,000 in awards may be
presented; the 2012 juror is Joseph Mella, director
of the Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery,
Nashville, Tennessee; for information and to
submit, call 309-794-7231, Centennial Hall Gallery,
Augustana College, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.augustana.edu/artmuseum, thru Thu
Jan 19.
Quad City Arts Grants Available, opportunity
for artists and non-profit organizations partnering
with artists to apply for funding to produce and/or
present arts projects and programming in 2012;
individual artists or non-profit organizations
partnering with area artists may apply for funding
up to $2,000 for their projects or programs; artists
may receive funding of up to $2,000 to produce
new work along with work-in-progress workshops
and public presentations of the finished work; all
projects must occur between April 15, 2012 and
March 31, 2013; for information, contact contact
Jessi Black at 309-793-1213 x 103 or jblack@
quadcityarts.com, Quad City Arts Center, 1715 2nd
Ave, Rock Island, IL, http://www.quadcityarts.com,
thru Tue Jan 31.
DubuqueFest Fine Arts Fair: Call For Artists,
accepting applications for the 34th annual juried
fine art fair scheduled for May 18-20; all interested
fine artists and fine craft artisans are encouraged
to apply; for information, call 563-564-5290,
DubuqueFest Art Fair, 378 Main St., Dubuque, IA,
http://www.dubuquefest.org, thru Wed Feb 15.
C0NCR75
November
Scott Olsen Benefit Concert, fundraiser for 24-
year-old injured at the Occupy Oakland rally; with
a silent auction, raffle, bake sale, and music by
Jordan Danielsen, Ren Estrand w/ Michael Brock,
The Harris Collection, Corey Wallace, and Patio;
all proceeds go toward Olsens medical expenses;
$5 at the door; for information, call 563-940-5387;
Davenport Eagles Lodge, 4401 West Locust St.,
Davenport, IA, 4pm Sat Nov 26.
Carol Montag, acclaimed folk singer-
songwriter in concert; $10-$20; for tickets and
information, call 563-652-9815, Ohnward Fine
Arts Center, 1215 E Platt St., Maquoketa, IA, http://
www.ohnwardfineartscenter.com, 7pm Sat Nov
26.
Kelly Pardekooper CD Release Show, concert
with singer-songwriter and native Iowan; $12; for
information and tickets, call 319-688-2653, Englert
Theatre, 221 East Washington St., Iowa City, IA,
http://englert.org/event_details.php?id=626,
8pm Sat Nov 26.
Little River Band, concert with the legendary
Australian vocal band; $20-$30; for tickets and
information, call 800-724-5825, Quad-Cities
Waterfront Convention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway,
Bettendorf, IA, http://bettendorf.isleofcapricasinos.
com/index.aspx, 7:30pm Sat Nov 26.
Ozark Jubilee Legends of Country Music,
music from favorite country singers such as
Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and more,
plus Branson comedian and world-class fiddler
Doofus Doolittle; for tickets and information,
call 641-472-2787, Stephen Sondheim Center for
the Performing Arts, Fairfield Arts & Convention
Center, Fairfield, IA, http://www.FairfieldACC.com,
7:30pm Sat Nov 26.
Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra w/
Rockapella, acclaimed musicians in the 2011
Holiday Pops tour; a Hancher Auditorium
presentation; $17.50-$90; for tickets and
information, call 319-335-1160, Carver-Hawkeye
Arena, 1 Elliot Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
hancher.uiowa.edu, 7pm Sun Nov 27.
Black Hawk College Piano Recital, for
information, call 309-796-5478, Deere-Wiman
Carriage House, 817 11th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.bhc.edu, 7:30pm Mon Nov 28.
w w w. n o v a s i n g e r s . c o m
N O V A S I N G E R S 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N
Contact Nova Singers for
information on these or any of
our Galesburg performances:
309-341-7038
nova@knox.edu
Nova Christmas
December 16, 2011 7:30 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Sun & Moon, Sea & Sky
February 12, 2012 4:00 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Laura L. Lane, Founder and Music Director
$16 adults
$12 seniors
students free
Tickets
available
at the door
2267 RCR ad NOVA.qxp 11/15/2011 11:46 AM Page 1
Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebration, multi-
platinum selling recording artist in his holiday
concert with singers Anne Cochran and Benjamin
Utecht, and electric violinist Tracy Silverman; $27-
$67; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Adler Theatre, 136
E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.adlertheatre.
com, 7:30pm Mon Nov 28.
Ilya Yakushev, international piano sensation; a
concert in the Cedar Rapids Community Concert
Associations 2011-2012 season; for information,
call 319-540-2301, Cedar Rapids Prairie High
School, 401 76th Ave., Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.
crcommunityconcerts.org, 7pm Tue Nov 29.
The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Show, holiday
concert with the country-music legends; $37-$52;
for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Peoria Civic Center,
201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL, http://www.
peoriaciviccenter.com, 7:30pm Tue Nov 29.
The Paragon Trombone Quartet, free; for
information, call 309-794-7306, Wallenberg Hall,
http://www.augustana.edu, 8pm Tue Nov 29.
UI Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, with
conductor Timothy Stalter; free, Iowa Memorial
Union Main Lounge - University of Iowa, 125
N. Madison St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Wed Nov 30.
December
Branson on the Road: Christmas Style,
Christmas music, old country favorites, amazing
instrumentals, and comedy with the famed touring
performers; appetizers available for purchase; Thu -
6pm doors, 7pm show; $22.50-$27.50; Fri - 11:45am
doors, noon plated lunch, 1pm show; $41.28;
for tickets and information, call 309-786-7733,
extension 2, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd
Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com, 7pm
Thu Dec 1 and Fri Dec 2.
Heartland Trio, with Nancy McFarland Gaub on
violin, Jonathan Sturm on viola, and Julie Sturm on
cello; music by Mozart and Schubert; $12-$15; for
tickets and information, call 641-472-2787, Stephen
Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield
Arts & Convention Center, Fairfield, IA, http://www.
FairfieldACC.com, 8pm Thu Dec 1.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, at 4 & 8pm; the
multi-media, musical spectacular; $31-59.50; for
tickets, call 800-745-3000, Peoria Civic Center,
peoriaciviccenter.com, Fri Dec 2.
Christmas at Augustana, featuring
performances by the Augustana Brass Ensemble,
Augustana Symphony Orchestra, Augustana Choir,
Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, Wennerberg Mens
Chorus, Cantilena Augustana, and more; Fri. 8pm,
Sat. 4pm; $10-20; for tickets and information,
call 309-794-7306, Centennial Hall, Augustana
College, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
augustana.edu, Fri Dec 2 and Sat Dec 3.
Choral Dynamics Christmas Gospel, a
presentation of the Christmas Story using both
secular and sacred music in the gospel genre, with
new and traditional songs mixed with dance and
humor; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; $7.50-15; for
information and tickets, call 309-342-2299, The
Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg St., Galesburg, IL,
http://www.theorpheum.org, Fri Dec 2 thru Sun
Dec 4.
Hersongs 7th Annual Warm Winter Concert,
concert with the Quad Cities womens chorus;
admission is the donation of cash or new
blankets to be distributed by Churches United
and theplace2be; for information, contact Brooke
Wilson Clemons at Hersong@earthlink.net or 309-
737-9898, St. Johns Lutheran Church - Rock Island,
4501 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.hersong.
us, 6pm Sat Dec 3.
Quad City Symphony Orchestra: Masterworks
III - Concerti for Celli, with conductor Mark Russell
Smith, guest cellists Anthony Ross and Beth Rapier
Ross, and a program featuring Abels Global
Warming, Vivaldis Concerto for Two Cellos, Otts
Concerto for Two Cellos, and Brahms Symphony
No. 1; for tickets and information, call 563-322-
7276, Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.qcsymphony.com, 7:30pm Sat Dec 3.
Riders in the Sky, wacky humor and Western
music in the tradition of the Sons of the Pioneers,
Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers; $12-24; for tickets
and information, call 641-472-2787, Stephen
FairfieldACC.com, 7:30pm Sat Dec 3.
UI Composers Workshop, free, Riverside Recital
Hall, 405 N Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Sat Dec 3.
Daytrotter Wish List Benefit, indie musicians
M. Ward, Laura Marling, Carlos Forster, and Mike
Coykendall in a concert benefiting the QC Times
Wish List Fund; $20 advance tickets; for information,
call 309-793-4060, RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.ribco.com, 8pm Sat Dec 3.
Kris Lager Band - Dan Hubbard & the
Humadors, rock, soul, and blues musicians
in concert, with openers Dan Hubbard & the
Humadors; $10; for tickets and information, call
563-326-1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.redstoneroom.com,
9pm Sat Dec 3.
Black Hawk College Youth and Adult String
Orchestras Concert, featuring Dr. Julieta Mihai,
violinist and concertmaster of the Illinois Symphony
and professor of violin at Western Illinois University,
performing Autumn from Vivaldis The Four
Seasons; free; for information, call 309-787-4025,
Trinity Lutheran Church - Moline, 1330 13th St,
Moline, IL, http://www.bhc.edu, 5pm Sun Dec 4.
German American Heritage Center Zither
Ensemble Annual Holiday Concert, performing
with the St. John Vianney Celebration Bell Choir;
$5; for information, call 563-322-8844, West Family
YMCA - Davenport, 606 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA,
http://www.gahc.org, 2pm Sun Dec 4.
III - Concerti for Celli, with conductor Mark Russell
Smith, guest cellists Anthony Ross and Beth Rapier
Ross, and a program featuring Abels Global
Warming, Vivaldis Concerto for Two Cellos, Otts
Concerto for Two Cellos, and Brahms Symphony
No. 1; for tickets and information, call 563-322-
7276, Centennial Hall, Augustana College, 3703 7th
Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.qcsymphony.com,
2pm Sun Dec 4.
UI Chamber Orchestra and All University
String Orchestra, with conductors Chun-Ming
Chen, Hyeyoun Jang, Kira Horel, and Michael
Wright; free, Riverside Recital Hall, 405 N Riverside
Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.performingarts.uiowa.
edu, 3pm Sun Dec 4.
Wilco, concert with the Grammy-nominated
musicians in support of their new album The Whole
Love; $42.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Val Air
Ballroom, Des Moines, IA, http://www.wilcoworld.
net, 7:30pm Sun Dec 4.
Timeflies, musical duo that employs elements
of pop, hip-hop, electro, dub step and rock; $8-10;
for information and tickets, call 563-333-6251 or e-
mail CAB@sau.edu, Rogalski Center - St. Ambrose
University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.sau.edu, 9pm Sun Dec 4.
UI Center for New Music Ensemble, free,
Riverside Recital Hall, 405 N Riverside Dr., Iowa City,
IA, http://www.performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm
Sun Dec 4.
Black Hawk College Vocal Recital, for
information, call 309-796-5478, Deere-Wiman
Carriage House, 817 11th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.bhc.edu, 7:30pm Mon Dec 5.
Irish Christmas in America, narrative concert
featuring Irish ballads, holiday carols, fiddle tunes,
and Irish dancing; a presentation in the Live at the
Temple series; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Civic
Center of Greater Des Moines Temple Theater, 10th
& Locust St., Des Moines, IA, http://www.civiccenter.
org, 7:30pm Mon Dec 5.
UI University Band/Concert Band, with
conductors Marc Decker and Kevin Kastens; free,
Iowa Memorial Union, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City,
Mon Dec 5.
Black Hawk College Community Band Concert,
in Building 4 on the second floors Hawks Nest; for
information, call 563-332-5879, Black Hawk College
- Quad City Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline, IL,
http://www.bhc.edu, 7:30pm Tue Dec 6.
Irish Christmas in America, features top Irish
musicians, singers, and dancers in an engaging
performance rich in history, humor and energy; $30-
35; for tickets and information, call 319-364-1580,
CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA,
http://www.legionarts.org, 7pm Tue Dec 6.
The University of Iowa Jazz Repertory
Ensemble, directed by UI School of Music faculty
member Brent Sandy; program includes Big
Dipper by Thad Jones, St. Thomas by Sonny
Rollins, Self-Portrait in Three Colorsand Better Get
Hit in Your Soul by Charles Mingus, Anthropology
by Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie, Count Em by
Quincy Jones, Quiet Night and Quiet Stars by
Antonio Carlos Jobim, and The Chickenby PeeWee
Ellis; free, Riverside Recital Hall, 405 N Riverside Dr.,
Iowa City, IA, http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2011/
november/111111at-a-glance.html, 7:30pm Tue
Dec 6.
UI Jazz Repertory Ensemble, free, Riverside
Recital Hall, 405 N Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://
www.performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Tue Dec
6.
Faculty Recital: Flute & Clarinet Choir, featuring
a range of different flute and clarinet types, and a
wide range of music; free; for information, e-mail
clydeandrewwalter@augustana.edu or call 309-
203-9879, Denkmann Memorial Hall - Augustana
augustana.edu, 8pm Wed Dec 7.
Black Hawk College Holiday Choral Concert, for
information, call 309-796-5478, First Congregational
Church - Moline, 2201 7th Avenue, Moline, IL, http://
www.bhc.edu, 7:30pm Thu Dec 8.
Christmas at the Speakeasy, holiday favorites
performed by members of Nuncrackers the
performing wait staff the Bootleggers; selected food
items available for purchase; $10-$12; for tickets
and information, call 309-786-7733, extension 2,
The Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island,
IL, http://www.circa21.com, 7pm Thu Dec 8.
Club Hancher: Catherine Russell, concert with
the acclaimed jazz and blues singer; a Hancher
Auditorium presentation; $10-$20; for tickets
and information, call 319-335-1160, The Mill, 120
E Burlington, Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.
uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Thu Dec 8.
UI Afro-Cuban Jazz Summit Concert, with the
Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet featuring Michael
Spiro, the UI Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the UI Afro-
Cuban Drum & Dance Ensemble; for information, call
319-688-2653, Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.performingarts.uiowa.
edu, 7:30pm Thu Dec 8.
A Musical Holiday Gift, brown-bag concert
presented by the Moline High School Concert Choir
under the direction of Ron May; free; for information,
call 309-524-2440, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st
St, Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com, 12pm
Fri Dec 9.
Christmas Showcase Concert, featuring the
University Chorale, Chamber Singers, Symphonic
Band and SAU-Community Symphony Orchestra,
as well as the Jazz Ensemble and STAMVOJA; free;
for information, contact Terri Flynn at 563-333-6001,
Galvin Fine Arts Center, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.sau.edu, 7pm Fri Dec 9.
Jeffrey Foucault, acclaimed country and blues
artist in concert; $14-18; for information and tickets,
call 319-364-1580, CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE,
Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.legionarts.org, 8pm
Fri Dec 9.
The Grateful Dead American Beauty Project, a
musical journey through the classic Grateful Dead
albums American Beauty and Workingmans
Dead, with contemporary folk group Ollabelle, jazz
torch singer Catherine Russell, and other guests;
a Hancher Auditorium presentation; $10-$20; for
tickets and information, call 319-335-1160, Riverside
Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA,
http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Fri Dec 9.
Theatre
Holiday Plays, Musicals, and Dance
November and December
O
kay,
lets just
deal with the
elephant in the
room right off
the bat: Yes.
After a five-year
absence, Ballet
Quad Cities has
finally asked me to reprise my memorable
dare I say legendary portrayal of Herr
Drosselmeyer in the companys Adler Theatre
presentation of The Nutcracker (December
10 and 11). See what great things can come
from whining in print on an annual basis?
But while Id love to dedicate this space
solely to my forthcoming reunion with
the dance troupe, Im humble enough to
recognize that our Nutcracker is not the only
holiday stage production the area will see
over the next few weeks. Nor, to be honest,
is it the only Nutcracker, as presentations
of Tchaikovskys masterpiece will also be
staged by the Nolte Academy of Dance at
Iowa Citys Englert Theatre (December 2
through 4), by the Peoria Ballet at the Peoria
Civic Center (December 10), and even by a
dance company from Russia, in the Orpheum
Theatres touring production The Moscow
Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker (December 5
and 6). For music and dance of a less balletic
nature, the Iowa City Community Theatre
delivers the musical-comedy merriment of
Irving Berlins White Christmas (December 9
through 18), while Quad City Music Guild
brings a cherished literary classic to stage
life in Scrooge (December 1 through 4), the
Christmas Carol adaptation with music and
lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Performed without
song and dance, Theatre Cedar Rapids
delivers its own take on Charles Dickens A
Christmas Carol (opening November 25), and
additional holiday sentiment can be found
in Iowa Citys Riverside Theatre production
of Ron Clarks Small Miracles (November 25
through 27) and the Old Creamery Theatres
Wooden Snowflakes (opening December
1). That Amana-based venue will also offer
seasonal magic in the family entertainment
Raggedy Ann & Andys Yuletide Adventure
(opening November 26), while two actors
portray nearly two dozen Southern revelers
in the District Theatre comedy A Tuna
Christmas (opening November 25). And
in addition to its current musical comedy
Nuncrackers (running through December 30),
the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse will deliver
seasonal fun with the feisty childrens book
heroine Junie B. Jones in Junie B. in Jingle
Bells, Batman Smells (opening November
25). Boy, that Junie B. sure can be grouchy.
Know what would cheer up a kid like her this
holiday season? Tickets to Ballet Quad Cities
The Nutcracker! You know, Im just saying ... .
Mike Schulz
Christmas with the Quad City Singers, annual
dinner and concert of Renaissance-through-
contemporary-jazz music, with the 22-member
ensemble under the direction of Lori Potts,
accompanied by Marcia Renaud; 6pm social
hour, 7pm sit-down dinner and program; $40; for
information and reservations, call Ken Hill at 309-
794-0106, Lavender Crest Winery, 5401 US Highway
6, Colona, IL, http://www.quadcitysingers.org, 6pm
Fri Dec 9 and Sat Dec 10.
The Manny Lopez Big Band, Lopez and his 13
piece big band will be playing all your favorites from
the Big Band era; featuring hits from Glenn Miller,
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Henry Mancini, and
Stan Kenton; $10-$12; for tickets and information,
call 309-786-7733, extension 2, The Circa 21
Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://
www.circa21.com, 6pm Fri Dec 9.
Jingle Bell Rock featuring Eddie Money, Lou
Gramm, & Mickey Thomas, holiday concert with
the pop and rock performers; $36-$46; for tickets
and information, call 877-677-3456, Riverside
Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside,
IA, http://www.riversidecasinoandresort.com, 8pm
Sat Dec 10.
Mike Garson, acclaimed pianist performs in a
presentation in the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist
Series; $8-$12; for information and tickets, call 309-
793-1213, First Presbyterian Church of Davenport,
1702 Iowa St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
quadcityarts.com, 4pm Sat Dec 10.
Handels Messiah, the holiday masterwork
performed by the 250-member Handel Oratorio
Society and professional Handel Oratorio Chamber
Orchestra; featuring soloists soprano Mary Wilson,
mezzo-soprano Rebecca Ringle, tenor Christopher
Cock, and baritone Gerard Sundberg; Sat 8pm, Sun
2pm; $10-20; for tickets and information, call 309-
794-7306, Centennial Hall, Augustana College, 3703
7th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.augustana.
edu, Sat Dec 10 and Sun Dec 11.
UI Semi-Annual Last Chance Percussion
Concert, free, Riverside Recital Hall, 405 N Riverside
Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.performingarts.uiowa.
edu, 3:02pm Sun Dec 11.
Galesburg High School Holiday Concert, free
and open to the public; for information, call 309-
342-2299 or e-mail tickets@theorpheum.org, The
Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg St., Galesburg, IL,
http://www.theorpheum.org, 7pm Tue Dec 13.
In the Christmas Mood with the Glenn Miller
Orchestra, standards and masterful takes on
holiday classics with the big-band musicians; for
FairfieldACC.com, 7:30pm Tue Dec 13.
Festival of Carols, featuring hot cocoa, sing-a-
longs, performances by the Capitol Chorus, Dave
Moore, and Alan Swanson, Saffron henke reading
twas the Night Before Christmas, a visit by Santa
Claus, and more; free; for information, call 319-688-
2653, Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St., Iowa
City, IA, http://www.englert.org, 7pm Thu Dec 15.
Lessons & Carols, at 4 & 8pm; the Augustana
Chamber Singers and Campus Ministries present
the story of Christs birth in readings and song; free;
for information, call 309-794-7233, Founders Hall
- Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
augustana.edu, Thu Dec 15.
Max Wellman: Home for the Holidays, famed
jazz musician in his holiday concert, with Nick
Rieser on piano, Brooke Peters on bass, Joel Gettys
on drums and Dave Rezek on trumpet; tickets
starting at $20; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Civic
Center of Greater Des Moines Temple Theater, 10th
& Locust St., Des Moines, IA, http://www.civiccenter.
org, 7:30pm Thu Dec 15 thru Sun Dec 18.
A Nova Christmas, annual holiday concert
with the vocal ensemble the Nova Singers; $12-
$16, students free; for information and tickets,
call 309-341-7038 or e-mail nova@knox.edu, St.
Paul Lutheran Church - Davenport, 2136 Brady
St., Davenport, IA, http://departments.knox.edu/
novasingers/concerts.html, 7:30pm Fri Dec 16.
Gabriels Brass, lunchtime concert with the brass
quartet; free; for information, call 563-344-4175,
Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.bettendorflibrary.com,
12pm Fri Dec 16.
The Envy Corps, indie-rock musicians in
concert; $8-10; for information, call 563-326-1333,
The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport, IA,
http://www.redstoneroom.com, 9pm Fri Dec 16.
Bucktown Revue, an old-fashioned radio show
on stage, with hosts the Barley House Band and
emcee Scott Tunnicliff; $10; for information, e-mail
mgromkey@gmail.com, Nighswander Theatre,
2822 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA, http://www.
bucktownrevue.com, 7pm Fri Dec 16.
A Nova Christmas, annual holiday concert with
the vocal ensemble the Nova Singers; $12-$16,
students free; for information and tickets, call 309-
341-7038 or e-mail nova@knox.edu, First Lutheran
Church - Galesburg, 364 E. Water St., Galesburg,
IL, http://departments.knox.edu/novasingers/
concerts.html, 7:30pm Sat Dec 17.
The Midtown Men, top hits from The Beatles,
The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Jackson
5, and The Four Seasons, performed by original
Jersey Boys cast members Michael
Longoria, Daniel Reichard, J.
Robert Spencer, and Tony Award
Winner Christian Hoff; a Broadway
at the Adler Theatre presentation;
$31.50-51.50 for tickets, call 800-
745-3000, Adler Theatre, 136 E.
3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
adlertheatre.com, 7:30pm Sat Dec
17.
Christmas Carols: God Bless
Us, Everyone!, performances by
the Sanctuary Choir, Chamber
Chorale, Celebration Singers,
Cecelian Carolers, Cathedral Choir
of Young Men and Boys, Vesper
Bells, organ, and orchestra; Sat
7:30pm, Sun 4pm; for information,
call 563-326-1691, First Presbyterian
Church of Davenport, 1702 Iowa
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
fpcdavenport.org/PAS.htm, Sat Dec
17 and Sun Dec 18.
Beppie Weiss Luscious Boxfull @ The Chait Galleries
Downtown through January 4
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1800 E 54th Street
Davenport, IA
(563) 355-0600
2315 Roosevelt Street
Clinton, IA
(563) 242-3571
The Christmas Music of Mannheim
Steamroller, modern-day rock, acoustic and
electronic music in a production by Chip Davis; $39-
56; for tickets. call 800-745-3000, Adler Theatre, 136
E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.adlertheatre.
com, 7:30pm Wed Dec 21.
Home for the Holidays II, benefit concert
for the Johnson County Crisis Center Food Bank;
featuring a silent auction, a canned food drive,
and music by Euforquestra, Dennis McMurrin & the
Demolition Band, and David Zollo; $10-15, Gabes,
330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
iowacitygabes.com, 9pm Fri Dec 23.
Night Fever: The Bee Gees Tribute &
ABBAMANIA, at 8 & 10pm; tribute bands in concert;
for information, call 319-648-1234, Riverside Casino
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA,
http://www.riversidecasinoandresort.com, Wed
Dec 28 and Thu Dec 29.
Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebration, multi-
platinum selling recording artist in his holiday
concert; $27-67; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Thu
Dec 29.
Winter Blues Jam Concert, the participants in
this years sessions strut their stuff; following the
jam, Hal Reed and Ellis Kell will select a group of
Winter Blues All-Stars to perform in the BlueSkool
Tent at the 2012 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
and as the opening act for blues guitarist Samantha
Fish in the Redstone Room on January 13; $5; for
information, call 563-326-1333, The Redstone
Room, 129 Main St, Davenport, IA, http://www.
redstoneroom.com, 6pm Fri Dec 30.
Remember the King: Elvis through the Years,
a salute to Elvis Presley from the 1950s, the 68
comeback special, and the Vegas years; for tickets
Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com, Sat Dec 31.
Dr. Zhivegas, popular Midwestern dance
band, with hot appetizers from 8-10pm, party
favors, a champagne fountain, a balloon drop at
midnight, and more; $30-$45; for information, call
800-724-5825, Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention
Center, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, IA, http://
bettendorf.isleofcapricasinos.com/happenings-
entertainment.aspx, 8pm Sat Dec 31.
Family Groove Company, New Years Eve show
with the jazz, funk, and rock musicians in concert;
$20-25; for tickets and information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport,
IA, http://www.redstoneroom.com, 9pm Sat Dec 31.
January
Samantha Fish, 22-year-old blues singer-
songwriter in concert; $10; for information, call
563-326-1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.redstoneroom.com,
8pm Fri Jan 13.
The Manny Lopez Big Band, Lopez and his 13
piece big band will be playing all your favorites
from the Big Band era; featuring hits from Glenn
Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Henry
Mancini, and Stan Kenton; $10-$12; for tickets and
information, call 309-786-7733, extension 2, The
Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.circa21.com, 6pm Fri Jan 13.
Honor Band Festival Finale Concert, free; for
information, call 309-794-7233, Centennial Hall,
http://www.augustana.edu, 6:30pm Mon Jan 16.
Senior Day: Silver Tones, performance with
quartet that plays old-time music from the 30s, 40s,
and 50s; refreshments served; free; for information,
cal 563-344-4175, Bettendorf Public Library, 2950
Learning Campus, Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
bettendorflibrary.com, 1:30pm Thu Jan 19.
The Java Jews, an evening of Klezmer music with
this seven-piece, highly caffeinated ensemble;
free; for information, call 309-524-2470, Moline
Public Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, IL, http://www.
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Thu Jan 19.
Augustana Percussion Ensemble Concert,
free; for information, call 309-794-7233, Bergendoff
Hall - Augustana College, 3701 7th Ave., Rock Island,
IL, http://www.augustana.edu/academics/music/
department/?id=25, 7:30pm Fri Jan 20.
Rascal Flatts, platinum-selling recording artists
in concert with special guests Sara Evans and
Hunter Hayes; $25.25-56.25; for tickets, call 800-
745-3000, Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson
Ave, Peoria, IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com,
7:30pm Fri Jan 20.
bucktownrevue.com, 7pm Fri Jan 20.
The Lyrebird Ensemble, a presentation in the
Quad City Symphony Orchestra Signature Series;
musicians Ellen Huntington and Lillian Lau perform
hidden gems from the flute and harp repertoire; $7-
$18; for information and tickets, call 563-322-7276,
http://www.qcsymphony.com, 8pm Sat Jan 21.
Three Hits and a Miss, at 2 & 7:30pm; pop-
music chart-toppers from the mid-1950s through
the mid-1980s; a concert in the Cedar Rapids
Community Concert Associations 2011-2012
season; for information, call 319-540-2301, Cedar
Rapids Prairie High School, 401 76th Ave., Cedar
Rapids, IA, http://www.crcommunityconcerts.org,
Sat Jan 21.
David Malis, opera and musical-theatre favorites
with the famed baritone, accompanied by Steve
Berg on organ and Werner Elmker on piano; for
FairfieldACC.com, 7:30pm Tue Jan 24.
Peter Yarrow, concert with the Grammy Award-
winning singer-songwriter of Peter, Paul, & Mary;
a presentation in the Live at the Temple series; for
tickets, call 800-745-3000, Civic Center of Greater
Des Moines Temple Theater, 10th & Locust St., Des
Moines, IA, http://www.civiccenter.org, 7:30pm Tue
Jan 24.
Peter Yarrow, concert with the legendary
performer from Peter, Paul and Mary; $36-41; for
tickets and information, call 319-364-1580, CSPS/
Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, http://
www.legionarts.org, 7pm Wed Jan 25.
Buddy Olson, a brown-bag concert; free; for
information, call 563-344-4175, Bettendorf Public
Library, 2950 Learning Campus, Bettendorf, IA,
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, noon Fri Jan 27.
Turn of the Screw, performance with the
University of Iowa Opera department, based on Henry
James novel and directed by Alan Hicks; Fri & Sat
8pm, Sun 2pm; $5-20; for information and tickets, call
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.performingarts.uiowa.
edu, Fri Jan 27 thru Sun Jan 29.
Night Ranger, classic pop-rock performers of
Sister Christian in concert; $25-35; for tickets and
information, call 877-677-3456, Riverside Casino
Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA,
http://www.riversidecasinoandresort.com, 8pm
Sat Jan 28.
UI Honor Choir Concert, free, Iowa Memorial
Union, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7pm Mon Jan 30.
Faculty Recital: Sangeetha Rayapati, Soprano,
free; for information, call 309-794-7233, Denkmann
Memorial Hall - Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu, 8pm
Tue Jan 31.
February
Stew & the Negro Problem, the Tony Award
winner in a genre-defying rock-pop-funk-punk-
cabaret; a Hancher Auditorium presentation;
$12.50-$30; for tickets and information, call 319-
335-1160, Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu,
7:30pm Thu Feb 2.
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St . John s Lut heran Church ~ ELCA ~ RIC St . John s Lut heran Church ~ ELCA ~ RIC St . John s Lut heran Church ~ ELCA ~ RIC St . John s Lut heran Church ~ ELCA ~ RIC
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presented by Hersong, the Quad Cities Womens Chorus
Saturday, December 3 ~ 6:00 p.m.

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featuring the Edgar Crockett Jazz Trio
Sunday, December 4 ~ 6:30 p.m.

ADMISSION
Freewill donation to benefit theplace2be, a safe haven
for our communitys youth (theplace2be.org)
The Official Blues Brothers Revue, a concert
tribute to the music and comedy of Jake and
Elwood, in the only Blues Brothers show to be
officially sanctioned by Dan Aykroyd and the John
Belushi estate; for tickets
and information, call
641-472-2787, Stephen
Sondheim Center for the
Performing Arts, Fairfield
Arts & Convention Center,
Fairfield, IA, http://www.
FairfieldACC.com, 7:30pm
Thu Feb 2.
Augustana Jazz
Ensemble Concert, free;
for information, call 309-
794-7233, Centennial Hall,
Augustana College, 3703
7th Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.augustana.
edu, 8pm Fri Feb 3.
Honors Scholarship
Recital, free; for
information, call 309-
794-7233, Denkmann
Memorial Hall -
edu, 7pm Fri Feb 3.
Augustana Four
Choirs Concert, free; for
information, call 309-794-
7233, Centennial Hall,
edu, 4pm Sat Feb 4.
Guy Davis, concert
with acclaimed bluesman
and Broadway star of
Finians Rainbow; a
presentation in the Live
at the Temple series; for
tickets, call 800-745-3000,
Civic Center of Greater
Des Moines Temple
Theater, 10th & Locust
St., Des Moines, IA, http://
www. ci vi ccenter. org,
7:30pm Mon Feb 6.
Guy Davis, concert
with the legendary
bluesman; $14-18; for
tickets and information,
call 319-364-1580, CSPS/
Legion Arts, 1103 3rd
St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA,
http://www.legionarts.
org, 7pm Tue Feb 7.
Augustana Jazz
Combo Soiree, free; for
794-7233, Denkmann
Memorial Hall -
edu, 8pm Wed Feb 8.
Burlesque to
Broadway, Quinn
Lemley brings to life the
songs and music of all
the characters from the
gilded time when Mae
West, Sally Rand, Gypsy
Rose Lee, and others were
captivating audiences; for
call 641-472-2787, Stephen Sondheim Center for
the Performing Arts, Fairfield Arts & Convention
Center, Fairfield, IA, http://www.FairfieldACC.com,
7:30pm Fri Feb 10.
Chucho Valds and the Afro-Cuban
Messengers, Latin jazz with the renowned Cuban
pianist and Grammy Award winner; a Hancher
Auditorium presentation; $16-$37; for tickets and
information, call 319-335-1160, Englert Theatre,
221 East Washington St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
hancher.uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Fri Feb 10.
A u g u s t a n a
Concert Band, free; for
information, call 309-794-
7233, Centennial Hall,
edu, 2pm Sat Feb 11.
Peter Cetera,
Grammy-winning singer-
songwriter of The Glory
of Love and The Next
Time I Fallin concert; $40-
50; for information and
tickets, call 877-677-3456,
Riverside Casino Event
Center, 3184 Highway 22,
Riverside, IA, http://www.
riversidecasinoandresort.
com, 8pm Sat Feb 11.
Quad City Symphony
Orchestra: Masterworks
IV - Valentines Day,
with guest conductor
Alondra de la Parra, guest
guitarist Robert Belinic,
and a program featuring
R i ms k y - K o r s a k o v s
Scheherazade,Rodrigos
Concierto de Aranjuez,
and Ravels Bolero; for
call 563-322-7276, Adler
Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St.,
Davenport, IA, http://
www.qcsymphony.com,
7:30pm Sat Feb 11.
Sun and Moon, Sea
and Sky, winter concert
with the vocal ensemble
the Nova Singers; $12-
$16, students free; for
information and tickets,
call 309-341-7038 or e-
mail nova@knox.edu,
First Lutheran Church
- Galesburg, 364 E. Water
St., Galesburg, IL, http://
departments.knox.edu/
novasingers/concerts.
html, 7:30pm Sat Feb 11.
UI Arts Share
Percussion Concert,
free, Riverside Recital
Hall, 405 N Riverside Dr.,
Iowa City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.
edu, 3pm Sat Feb 11.
UI Center for New
Music Ensemble, free,
Riverside Recital Hall,
405 N Riverside Dr., Iowa
City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.
edu, 7:30pm Sun Feb 12.
Bottom Line Duo,
double-bass and cell
duo; a concert in the
Cedar Rapids Community
Concert Associations
2011-2012 season; for
540-2301, Cedar Rapids
Prairie High School,
401 76th Ave., Cedar
Rapids, IA, http://www.
crcommunityconcerts.org, 3pm Sun Feb 12.
Lorrie Morgan, country-music and Grand
Ole Opry star in concert; $15-25; for tickets and
information, call 877-677-3456, Riverside Casino
Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA, http://
www.riversidecasinoandresort.com, 4pm Sun Feb
12.
IV - Valentines Day, with guest conductor
Alondra de la Parra, guest guitarist Robert Belinic,
and a program featuring Rimsky-Korsakovs
Scheherazade, Rodrigos Concierto de Aranjuez,
and Ravels Bolero; for tickets and information,
call 563-322-7276, Centennial Hall, Augustana
qcsymphony.com, 2pm Sun Feb 12.
Sun and Moon, Sea and Sky, winter concert
with the vocal ensemble the Nova Singers; $12-
$16, students free; for information and tickets,
call 309-341-7038 or e-mail nova@knox.edu, St.
Paul Lutheran Church - Davenport, 2136 Brady
St., Davenport, IA, http://departments.knox.edu/
novasingers/concerts.html, 4pm Sun Feb 12.
Zoe Keating, one-woman orchestra who uses
a cello and foot-controlled laptop to record layer
upon layer of cello, creating intricate, haunting,
and compelling music; $15-18; for tickets and
englert.org, 8pm Mon Feb 13.
Peoria Symphony Orchestra Presents
Valentines Day: The Romantic Gershwins,
pianist Dr. Richard Kogan and friends present
Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and
many other song favorites; $25-$60; for information
and tickets, call 309-671-1096, Peoria Civic Center,
peoriaciviccenter.com, 8pm Tue Feb 14.
Gaelic Storm, standards and originals with the
acclaimed Celtic musicians; $25-35; for tickets and
englert.org, 8pm Thu Feb 16.
The Whoozdads, a brown-bag lunch concert;
free; for information, call 563-344-4175, Bettendorf
Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus, Bettendorf,
IA, http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 12pm Fri
Feb 17.
bucktownrevue.com, 7pm Fri Feb 17.
DRUM! Electrifying Music, Rhythms, & Dance,
a fusion of music, dance, poetry, video, rhythm and
songs, featuring 20 musicians, dancers, drummers,
and singers from Nova Scotia; for tickets and
information, call 641-472-2787, Stephen Sondheim
Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield Arts &
Convention Center, Fairfield, IA, http://www.
FairfieldACC.com, 7:30pm Sat Feb 18.
Peoria Symphony Orchestra Presents Classics
IV, featuring a special performance of the music
of Brahms and Mahler; $32-$70; for information
and tickets, call 309-671-1096, Peoria Civic Center,
peoriaciviccenter.com, 8pm Sat Feb 18.
UI Symphony Band/Iowa Honor Band, with
honor band guest conductor Myron Welch; free,
Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge - University of
Iowa, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
performingarts.uiowa.edu, 7pm Sat Feb 18.
Marvin Bell Concert, free, Senate Chamber
of the Old Capitol, 201 S Clinton St, Iowa City, IA,
http://www.performingarts.uiowa.edu, 2pm Sun
Feb 19.
Brad Paisley, country-music superstar in
concert, with special guests The band Perry and
Scott McCreery; $25-59.75; for tickets, call 800-745-
3000, i wireless Center, 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL,
http://www.iwirelesscenter.com, 7pm Fri Feb 24.
Joseph Halls Elvis, La Vegas tribute performer
in concert; $10-$20; for tickets and information,
call 563-652-9815, Ohnward Fine Arts Center,
1215 E Platt St., Maquoketa, IA, http://www.
ohnwardfineartscenter.com, 7pm Sat Feb 25.
Knox-Galesburg Symphony, featuring Maurice
Cohn on violincello; for tickets and information, call
309-342-2299 or e-mail tickets@theorpheum.org,
The Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg St., Galesburg,
IL, http://www.theorpheum.org, 7:30pm Sat Feb
25.
UI Symphony Orchestra, with conductor
William LaRue Jones, Wolfgang David on violin,
Timothy Gill on cello, and Ksenia Nosikova on
piano; free, Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge
- University of Iowa, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City,
Wed Feb 29.
CLA555 & CALL5 F0R N7RY
RME On Tour Program, multi-media
presentation available for schools in the Quad-City
area; program includes: Introduction to River Music
Experience; Multi-media presentation on history of
American roots music; Live music performance by
2-3 RME staff or music instructors; Optional drum
circle; and Conclusion with student participation,
sing-a-long/play-a-long; for information and to
arrange for the tour to visit your school, call Ellis
kell at 563-326-1333, ext. 113 or email ekell@
rivermusicexperience.org, RME (River Music
Experience), 131 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.rivermusicexperience.org, thru Sat Dec 31.
WQPT Seeking Music Videos, seeking
musicians to share their music on The Cities with
Jim Mertens; be sure your submissions are of
a high-quality resolution, and original music is
encouraged; sent DVDs or high-quality (HD) videos
on You Tube will be considered; for information and
to submit, contact Lora Adams at 309-764-2400 or
lj-adams@wiu.edu, WQPT-TV, 3800 Avenue of the
Cities, Suite 101, Moline, IL, http://www.wqpt.org,
thru Sat Dec 31.
Voice Lessons with Tyson Danner, private voice
lessons for a wide variety of musical genres; lessons
are available to students of any age or experience
level; be sure to ask about rates and availability;
for information, contact Kimberly Furness at 563-
322-8504 or Kim@thecurtainbox.com, Curtainbox
Theatre & Conservatory, 2850 Eastern Ave., Suite
#200, Davenport, IA, http://thecurtainbox.com,
thru Wed Feb 29.
RA0lN05 & 0l5CU55l0N5
November & December
Local Authors Book Signing, authors featured
include Donna Beserra, Ann Hailey, Thomas Lerczak,
Mike McCarty, Michael Neis, Jane VanVorren Rogers,
and Brian Schmavje, on hand with childrens
literature, fiction, poetry, horror novels, and more;
free; for information, call 563-324-1410, Midwest
Writing Center, 225 E. 2nd St. Suite 303, Davenport,
IA, http://www.midwestwritingcenter.org, 7pm Fri
Nov 25.
David W. Dorris, Davenport author signs copies
of his book Life Is Too Short; Life Is What We Make
It; for information, contact Jim Miller at 888-361-
9473 or jim@tatepublishing.com, Barnes & Noble,
320 W Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA, 1pm Sat Nov
26.
QCAD Book Club, meets on the 4th Sunday
of the month; for information, call 309-786-2580,
Quad Citians Affirming Diversity Center, 1705
2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Sun Nov 27,.
River Readings at Augustana: Jill Alexander
Essbaum, acclaimed Christian erotic poet reads
from her works; free; for information, e-mail
kerirursch@augustana.edu or call 309-794-7721,
Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu/x36806.
xml, 7pm Wed Nov 30.
CASI Book Club Meeting, $2-$4; for information,
call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center for Active Seniors),
1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.
casiseniors.org, 10am Fri Dec 2.
Writers Studio, free; for information, call
563-324-1410, Midwest Writing Center, 225 E.
2nd St. Suite 303, Davenport, IA, http://www.
midwestwritingcenter.org, 11am Sat Dec 3.
Holiday Shopping Fundraiser for Midwest
Theatre
Musicals and Dance
December through February
O
ne of the highlights
of our areas winter
season of musicals and
dance performances
will no doubt be the
District Theatres staging
of Stephen Sondheims
mid-life roundelay
Company, which opens
on February 3. Id tell you who's appearing in it,
but as the show features, no kidding, just about
every single performer who has ever appeared in
a musical at the District Theatre or its former
Harrison Hilltop venue, the cast list would
quickly eat up my word count. So lets spread
the wealth, shall we? A few blocks away in the
District of Rock Island, the Circa 21 Dinner
Playhouse will start 2012 with the return of the
ever-popular rock-and-roll sensation Grease
(opening January 11), while the citys The Center
for Living continues its monthly stagings of an
only-slightly-abridged Broadway smash in Rent:
The School Edition (December 9 and 10, January
21, and February 18). Rock Islands professional
dance company Ballet Quad Cities heads over
to Augustana College Wallenberg Hall for the
Valentines Day-themed Love Stories: Love on the
Run! (February 17 and 18), while Davenports
Adler Theatre hosts the touring production of
a Tony Award-winning film adaptation in the
musical drama The Color Purple (February 7).
Iowa Citys Riverside Theatre will be celebrating
the winter weather (those weirdos ... ) with the
return of the venues popular Guys on Ice: An
Ice-Fishing Musical Comedy (opening January
20), while a less-frozen aquatic adventure will be
staged in St. Ambrose Universitys presentation
of the debuting family musical Dakota Jones &
the Search for Atlantis (December 3 and 4). The
music of the 80s principally the ass-kicking,
hair-band rock of the 80s will fill the Peoria
Civic Center in the Tony-nominated spectacle
Rock of Ages (January 17 and 18). And just
when youre thisclose to thinking that winter will
perhaps never, ever end, the Peoria venue will
wrap up the shortest-yet-longest month of the
year with Rodgers & Hammersteins Pulitzer
Prize-winning South Pacific (February 28 and
29), a musical classic chockablock with sunny
skies, palm trees, island breezes, and characters
running around in shorts. As I write this, the
Quad Cities is receiving its first snowfall of the
season. Im reserving my South Pacific tickets
now. Mike Schulz
The Color Purple
Writing Center, when customers mention the
Midwest Writing Center at checkout, a portion of
Barnes & Nobles sales will go to the center; local
authors, including horror novelist Mike McCarty
and The Christmas Cats in Silly Hatsauthor Connie
Corcoran Wilson, will be on hand to chat and sign
their books; free; for information, call 563-324-
1410 or e-mail mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org,
Barnes & Noble (Davenport), 320 W Kimberly Rd,
Davenport, IA, http://www.midwestwritingcenter.
org, 1pm Sat Dec 3.
Short & Sweets @ Eastern, discuss short
literature - including stories, memoirs, poems, and
articles less than 50 pages in length - while eating
scrumptious snacks; free; for information and
to register, call 563-888-3371, Davenport Public
Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 6000 Eastern Ave.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.davenportlibrary.com,
7pm Mon Dec 5.
The Christmas Sweater, a discussion of Glen
Becks book with the Alpha Book Club; free; for
information, call 309-732-7323, Rock Island Public
Library - Main Library, 401 19th, Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 3pm Mon Dec 5.
Talk Art Cabaret, late-night reading series
featuring the work of Iowa WritersWorkshop fiction
writers and poets; $3-$5, The Mill, 120 E Burlington,
Iowa City, IA, http://www.icmill.com, 10pm Wed
Dec 7.
Connie Corcoran Wilson, Wilson delivers
humorous readings from her latest book and plays
singalong Christmas carols on the piano; with light
refreshments and Wilsons books for sale; free; for
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 7pm Wed Dec
7.
Connie Corcoran Wilson, local author signing
copies of her books, including The Christmas Cats
in Silly Hats, Barnes & Noble, 320 W Kimberly Rd,
Davenport, IA, http://www.conniecwilson.com,
11am Sat Dec 10.
Emily Dickinson Poetry Discussion, Dr. Bea
Jacobson from St. Ambrose University leads a
discussion of Dickinsons poetry with the theme
Body Parts; free; for information, call 563-344-4175,
2pm Sat Dec 10.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, a Mystery
Book Discussion of Dorothy Gilmans book, led
by librarian Hedy Hustedde; free; for information,
call 563-344-4179, Bettendorf Public Library, 2950
bettendorflibrary.com, 9:30am Sat Dec 10.
My Old Man, desserts and a discussion of Ernest
Hemingways short story with the Shorts & Sweets
@ Fairmount Discussion Group; free; registration
required; for information, call 563-328-6833,
Fairmount Street Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St.,
10am Mon Dec 12.
DAGOBAH, the Davenport Area Gathering
of Books and Humanoids Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book
Discussion Group; free; for information, call 563-326-
7832, Davenport Public Library (Main), 321 Main
Street, Davenport, IA, http://www.davenportlibrary.
com, 6pm Mon Dec 12.
One True Theory of Love, a discussion of Laura
Fitzgeralds book with the Between the Lines Book
Club; free; for information, call 563-326-7832,
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch,
6000 Eastern Ave., Davenport, IA, http://www.
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Wed Dec 14.
blue//green Reading Series, readings of
concept literature; free; for information, e-mail
blue//green press at bluegreenpress@gmail.com,
The Mill, 120 E Burlington, Iowa City, IA, http://www.
icmill.com, 8pm Wed Dec 14.
Writers Studio, free; for information, call
563-324-1410, Midwest Writing Center, 225 E.
2nd St. Suite 303, Davenport, IA, http://www.
midwestwritingcenter.org, 11am Sat Dec 17.
Spoken Word, event hosted by The Intense
Poets, for ages 17+; free; for information, e-mail
info@rozztox.com, Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.rozztox.com, 7pm Sun Dec
18.
These Things Hidden, a discussion of Heather
Gudenkaufs book with the West End Book Club;
free; for information, call 563-326-7832, Fairmount
Street Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Tue Dec
20.
The March, a Contemporary Books Discussion
of E.L. Doctorows book, led by sports reporter Don
Doxsie; free; for information, call 563-344-4179,
7pm Wed Dec 21.
The Outliers, a Contemporary Books Discussion
of Malcolm Gladwells book, led by St. Ambrose
University Professor Michael Hustedde; free; for
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 1pm Wed Dec
21.
Out Loud Open Prose & Poetry Readings,
free; for information, call 563-324-1410, Midwest
Writing Center, 225 E. 2nd St. Suite 303, Davenport,
IA, http://www.midwestwritingcenter.org, 7pm Fri
Dec 30.
January
I See You Everywhere, a discussion of Julia
Glass book with the Pageturners Discussion Group;
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Tue Jan 3.
Kickoff Event for In a Nutshell: The Worlds
of Maurice Sendak, watch a film adaptation of
Where the Wild Things Are and tour the literary
exhibit; free; for information, call 309-524-2470,
Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, IL,
http://www.molinelibrary.com, 3pm Wed Jan 4.
Shorts & Sweets @ Fairmount, discuss short
stories, journal articles, poetry, and more, and
enjoy a delicious dessert while discussing; free; for
information, call 563-326-7832, Fairmount Street
Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.davenportlibrary.com, 10am Mon Jan 9.
com, 6pm Mon Jan 9.
Kitchen House, a discussion of Kathleen
Grissoms book with the Between the Lines Book
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Wed Jan 11.
Lets Talk About It: Making Sense of the
American Civil War, first session in the reading
and discussion series led by Augustana Colleges
Dr. Stephen Warren, on the legacy of the Civil War;
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Thu Jan 12.
In the Bleak Midwinter, a discussion of Julia
Spencer-Flemings book with the Mystery Book
Discussion group, led by Hedy Hustedde; free; for
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 9:30am Sat Jan
14.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a
discussion of Mark Twains book with the Classics
Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, IL,
http://www.molinelibrary.com, 7pm Mon Jan 16.
The Help, a discussion of Kathryn Stocketts book
with the West End Book Club; free; for information,
call 563-326-7832, Fairmount Street Library, 3000
N. Fairmount St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Tue Jan 17.
The Outliers, a discussion of Malcolm Gladwells
book with the Contemporary Books Discussion
Group; free; for information, call 563-344-5705,
7pm Wed Jan 18.
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Bounty Hunter
on Starz
The Childrens Blizzard, a discussion of David
Laskins book with the Contemporary Books
Discussion Group; free; for information, call
563-344-5705, Bettendorf Public Library, 2950
bettendorflibrary.com, 1pm Wed Jan 18.
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Sun Jan 22.
Year in Review, a fast-paced review of the best
books for adults of 2011; hear about books you may
have missed in this event that goes way beyond the
best-sellers; free; for information, call 563-326-7832,
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Mon Jan 23.
No Reservtaions, a discussion of Anthony
Bourdains book in the Travel Reads series, with
librarian Amanda Makula; free; for information,
e-mail kerirursch@augustana.edu or call 309-794-
7721, Carlsson Evald Hall - Augustana College, 3601
7th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.augustana.
edu, 4pm Sun Jan 29.
February
Maurice Sendak Book Discussion, a discussion
of Where the Wild Things Are,In the Night Kitchen,
and Outside Over There; free; for information, call
309-524-2470, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St,
Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com, 7pm
Wed Feb 1.
Shorts & Sweets @ Eastern, discuss short
information, call 563-326-7832, Davenport Public
6pm Mon Feb 6.
Pageturners Book Discussion Group, free;
for information, call 309-524-2470, Moline Public
Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, IL, http://www.
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Tue Feb 7.
Forgotten Garden, a discussion of Kate Mortons
book with the Between the Lines Book Club; free;
for information, call 563-326-7832, Davenport
Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 6000 Eastern
Ave., Davenport, IA, http://www.davenportlibrary.
com, 7pm Wed Feb 8.
Civically Engaged, a four-part Peace and
Justice and Studies Book Discussion, touching on
topics that include service, giving, leadership, and
association; held on Feb. 9 and 16, and March 1 and
8; free, books provided; for information, contact
Mara Adams at 563-333-6343 or Jessica Gosnell
at 563-333-6088, or email peace@sau.edu, Christ
the King Chapel, St. Ambrose University Campus,
Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu, 6:30pm Thu
Feb 9.
Murder at the Vicarage, a discussion of Agatha
Christies book with the Mystery Book Discussion
group, led by Augustana College librarian Connie
Ghinazzi; free; for information, call 563-344-4175,
9:30am Sat Feb 11.
com, 6pm Mon Feb 13.
Shorts & Sweets @ Fairmount, discuss short
information, call 563-326-7832, Fairmount Street
Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.davenportlibrary.com, 10am Mon Feb 13.
The Invisible Bridge, Susan Perry leads a
discussion of Julie Orringers book, a selection
in the German American Heritage Center Book
Club; for information, call 563-322-8844 or e-mail
husteddemichaelj@sau.edu, Bettendorf Public
http://www.gahc.org, 7pm Tue Feb 14.
The Childrens Blizzard, a discussion of David
Laskins book with the Contemporary Books
Discussion Group; free; for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 7pm Wed Feb 15.
The Help, a discussion of Kathryn Stocketts
book with the Contemporary Books Discussion
Group; free; for information, call 563-344-5705,
1pm Wed Feb 15.
Lets Talk About It: Making Sense of the
American Civil War, first session in the reading
and discussion series led by Augustana Colleges
Dr. Stephen Warren, on the legacy of the Civil War;
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Thu Feb 16.
A Valentine for Faye Clow, prize-winning poets
will read their works; with New York City-based poet
Jean Valentine as keynote speaker, Kai Swanson as
emcee, and the two first-place poems performed
in song by local composer Julia Goodman; for
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 6:30pm Thu
Feb 16.
Little Bee, a discussion of Chris Cleaves book
with the West End Book Club; free; for information,
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Tue Feb 21.
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Sun Feb 26.
Mansfield Park, a discussion of Jane Austens
book with the Classics Club; free; for information,
call 309-524-2470, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st
St, Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com, 7pm
Mon Feb 27.
RA0lN0 PR00RAM5
Red, White, & Read Reading Program, at all
Davenport public libraries; free; for information,
call 563-326-7832, http://www.davenportlibrary.
com, Sun Jan 1 thru Wed Feb 29.
Teen Read Challenge: annual Quad City-wide
reading challenge for teens, co-sponsored by Quad
City Libraries; for information, call 309-732-7323;
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, Sun Jan 8 thru
Sat Jan 28.
Teen Reading Challenge, for grades 6-12; pick
up a Challenge log from your local library and
keep track of how much you read between Jan. 8
and Jan. 28; read 250 minutes to win a prize and
an invitation to the Challenge Final Party on Feb.
3; at 500, 750, and 1,000 minutes, get entered
into drawings for more prizes; for information, call
309-524-2470, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St,
Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com, Sun Jan
8 thru Sat Jan 28.
PRF0RMANC5
Currently Playing
Wicked, Broadway musical smash based on The
Wizard of Oz; Tue-Sat 7:30pm (no Thanksgiving
show), Sat 2pm, Sun 1 & 6:30pm; $35 & up; for
tickets, call 800-745-3000, Civic Center of Greater
Des Moines, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines, IA, http://
www.civiccenter.org, thru Sun Dec 4.
A Dont Hug Me Christmas Carol, holiday-
themed musical with the good folks of Bunyan Bay;
Fri & Sat 7:30pm; Wed, Thu, & Sun 3pm; $17.50-$27;
for tickets and information, call 800-35-AMANA,
Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave., Amana, IA,
http://www.oldcreamery.com, thru Sun Dec 18.
Nuncrackers, holiday sequel to Dan Goggins
drag) for Sister Julia, Child of God in the
shows cooking segment. Ciemiewicz, who I
think could make a reading of the phone book
charmingly chuckle-worthy, takes Goggins
overly predictable
choice to have the
priest drink the rum
hes adding to the
fruitcake recipe and
turns it into comedy
gold. Channeling
Nathan Lane,
Ciemiewicz is just so
sweet, so friendly, and
so over-the-top funny
that the jokes lack of
originality is lost in the
laughter he elicits.
As Reverend Mother,
Nancy Evans nails the
characters controlling
but jovial nature
while reprimanding
her nuns for their
rebellious ways. Her
attempt to replace the injured and, except for
her foot, never seen Sister Mary Leo as the
Sugar Plum Fairy is a hilarious balancing act of
self-confidence and (intentional) lack of ballet
talent. (Ciemiewicz, similarly dressed as the
Sugar Plum Fairy, also shines in this scene with
his impressive en pointe dancing.) While Kristen
Jeters moxie as the Brooklyn-born Sister Robert
Anne is unmissable, its her heartwarming
performance of the song All I Want for
Christmas thats unforgettable. And Courtney
Washingtons dignified and driven Sister Hubert
brings down the house on the gospel-infused
show-stopper Its Better to Give, Goggins most
rousing number in the musical.
Whether thanks to Goggin or Hesselman,
there are also some clever updates here. Theres a
reference to Beyoncs Single Ladies (Put a Ring
on It) in one of the numbers (which could not
have been in the original show, as it was written
several years before that song was released),
and Hesselman who also choreographed this
production smartly incorporates a few iconic
steps from Beyoncs music video, punching
up the pop reference. While my guess is that
November 11's older audience members
missed this and the mention of the girl group
the Pussycat Dolls, theyre welcome inclusions
for those of us who caught them. The updates
are also much-needed additions to a series
thats aging, although Nuncrackers seems to be
weathering the years better than other Nunsense
shows.
For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733
extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
0
f all the installments in the Nunsense
series, which includes six sequels and
three spinoffs, the Christmas musical
Nuncrackers currently running at the Circa 21
Dinner Playhouse seems
to me the most palat-
able. For one thing, it has
the added benefit of its
Christmas theme; theres
just something about the
holidays that puts you (or at
least me) in a cheery mood,
which, in turn, makes it
easier to forgive the shows
shortcomings. And when
you add the merry goofi-
ness of the Little Sisters of
Hoboken, its hard not to be
in good spirits throughout
the show.
This, the fourth
Nunsense piece by Dan
Goggin (who wrote the
songs, lyrics, and book),
finds the nuns, Father
Virgil, and the Mt. Saint Helens schools four
most talented girls staging a cable-access TV
show for Christmas. The sequel includes the
usual Nunsense humor filled with double
entendres and clichd jokes plus familiar
carols and a wild, nuns-in-tutus version of
Tchaikovskys Nutcracker ballet.
The musicals most obvious weakness
lies in its obvious jokes, and it doesnt help
that director Jim Hesselman has his actors
overselling their punchlines, in an effort to make
sure the audience doesnt miss the intended
humor. For instance, Sister Amnesia mistakenly
introduces the ballet by exclaiming the phrase
BALL-BUSTERS!, and has to be told its
NUT-CRACKERS! Ugh. Is there anyone in
the audience who wouldve missed that one if
it were vocalized at a normal level? (Jokes are
funnier when you simply get them than when
theyre slapped in your face.) Still, the bright,
exuberant tone of Hesselmans work, and the
casts portrayals, make the lack of subtlety hardly
matter.
Jillian Prefach has the good fortune of playing
the happiest, most unassuming nun of them
all: Sister Amnesia. This air-headed, Southern-
twanged sister shines brightest during a Secret
Santa segment in which Prefach delivers
Catholic-themed gifts to a handful of audience
members. While the 10 Commandments sticker
set and the two-inch golden ruler are relatively
amusing themselves, its Prefachs partially ad-
libbed conversations with the Circa 21 patrons
that makes each gift worthy of a hearty laugh.
Theres a similar magic created by Marc
Ciemiewicz as Father Virgil, substituting (in
Hard Habits to Break
Nuncrackers, at the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse through December 30
By Thom White
THEATRE
Courtney Washington, Jillian Prefach,
and Kristen Jeter
musical-comedy smash Nunsense; Wed, Fri, & Sat
5:45pm doors, 6-7pm buffet, 7:15pm Bootlegger
pre-show; 7:45pm show; Sun. 3:45pm doors, 4-
5pm buffet, 5:15pm Bootlegger pre-show; 5:45pm
show; Wed 11:30am doors, 11:45am-12:45pm
plated lunch, 1pm Bootlegger pre-show; 1:30pm
show; for tickets and information, call 309-786-
7733, extension 2, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828
3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com,
thru Fri Dec 30.
Opening in November
Once Upon a Blank, innovative takes on the
classic fairytales Little Red Riding Hood and The
Three Little Pigs; $5; for tickets and information, call
309-786-1111, The Establishment Theatre, 220 19th
St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.comedysportzqc.
com, 2pm Fri Nov 25.
A Southern Exposure, Iowa premieres of Kelley
Kingston-Strayers family comedy; Fri & Sat 7:30pm,
Sun 1:30pm; $10-$20; for information and tickets,
call 319-622-3222 or e-mail itac@southslope.net,
Iowa Theatre Artists Company, 4709 220th Trail,
Amana, IA, http://www.iowatheatreartists.org, Fri
Nov 25 thru Sun Nov 27.
A Tuna Christmas, holiday comedy with two
actors playing dozens of roles; Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun
2pm; $15; for tickets and information, call 309-
235-1654, The District Theatre, 1611 2nd Ave, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.districttheatre.com, Fri Nov
25 thru Sat Dec 10.
Small Miracles, revival of the personal tribute
to Christmas past by Riversides resident artist Ron
Clark; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; $15-20; for tickets
and information, call 319-338-7672, Riverside
Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
riversidetheatre.org, Fri Nov 25 thru Sun Nov 27.
All the Great Books (Abridged), Reed Martins &
Austin Tichenors comedic condensing of all of historys
literary masterpieces; in the Grace Theatre; Wed,
Fri, & Sat 7:30pm; Sat 2pm; $13-$26; for information
and tickets, call 815-879-5656, Grace Performing
Arts Center, 316 Main St., Princeton, IL, http://www.
festival56.com, Fri Nov 25 thru Sat Dec 3.
A Christmas Carol, John Mortimers stage
adaptation of Charles Dickens holiday classic;
scheduled performances Thu-Sun; $12-$25; for
tickets and information, call 319-366-8591, Theatre
Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, http://
www.theatrecr.org, Fri Nov 25 thru Sat Dec 17.
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells,
full-length holiday show featuring the beloved
childrens-book character; scheduled performances
Thu.-Tue.; $10.50-$20; for tickets and information,
call 309-786-7733, extension 2, Circa 21 Dinner
Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://
www.circa21.com, Fri Nov 25 thru Sat Dec 31.
Raggedy Ann & Andys Yuletide Adventure,
on Saturdays; a Theatre for Young Audiences
presentation; $8; for tickets, call 319-622-6194 or
800-35AMANA, Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave.,
Amana, IA, http://www.oldcreamery.com, 11am Sat
Nov 26 thru Sat Dec 17.
Opening in December
Scrooge, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol, with music & lyrics by Leslie
Bricusse; directed by Bob Williams; Thu-Sat 7:30pm,
Sun 2pm; $10-$15; for tickets and information, call
309-762-6610, Quad City Music Guild - Prospect
Park Auditorium, 1584 34th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.qcmusicguild.com, Thu Dec 1 thru Sun Dec
4.
Hamlet, condensed, minimalist version of
Shakespeares tragedy, directed by Carol MacVey;
Wed-Sat & Tue 8pm, Sun 2pm; $10-$17; for
information and tickets, call 319-335-1160, The
University of Iowas David Thayer Theatre, 200 N.
Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.
uiowa.edu/tickets, Thu Dec 1 thru Sat Dec 10.
Wooden Snowflakes, holiday-themed drama
by Catherine Bush; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun & Thu 3pm;
$17.50-$27; for tickets and information, call 800-35-
AMANA, Old Creamery Studio Theatre, 3023 220th
Trail, Middle Amana, IA, http://www.oldcreamery.
com, Thu Dec 1 thru Sun Dec 18.
The Elves & the Shoemaker, family-musical
presentation by the Young Footliters; Fri 1pm,
Sat 4pm, Sun 2pm; for information, e-mail info@
youngfootliters.org, Herbert Hoover Presidential
Library & Museum, Off I-80 at exit 254, West Branch,
IA, http://www.youngfootliters.org, 7pm Fri Dec 2
thru Sun Dec 4.
Tartuffe, the Prenzie Players production of
Molieres classic farce, directed by Jeremy Mahr; Fri,
Sat, and Dec. 4 - 7:30pm doors, 8pm performance;
Dec 11 1:30pm doors, 2pm performance; for
tickets and information, call 309-278-8426 or e-mail
tickets@prenzieplayers.com, Skellington Manor
Banquet & Event Center, 420 18th St, Rock Island,
IL, http://www.prenzieplayers.com, Fri Dec 2 thru
Sun Dec 11.
Little Women, Peter Claphams adaptation of
Louisa May Alcotts beloved novel; Fri & Sat 7:30pm,
Sun 2pm; $12-$13; for information and tickets, call
319-462-4793, Starlighters II Theatre, 136 E. Main
St., Anamosa, IA, http://www.starlighters.org, Fri
Dec 2 thru Sun Dec 11.
Invisible Man, a staged reading of a new
adaptation of Ralph Ellisons seminal novel, by
director Christopher McElroen; for information, call
319-335-1133, Shambaugh Auditorium, UI Main
Library, S. Madison St., Iowa City, IA, 7pm Sat Dec 3.
Dakota Jones and the Search for Atlantis,
debuting family musical loosely based on 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea,written by Aaron Randolph
III, directed by Daniel DP Sheridan; $7-$8; for tickets
and information, call 563-333-6251, Galvin Fine Arts
Center, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
sau.edu/galvin, 3pm Sat Dec 3 and Sun Dec 4.
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells,
full-length holiday show featuring the beloved
childrens-book character; 5:30pm doors, 5:45pm
buffet, 6:45 show; $18-$20; for tickets and
information, call 309-786-7733, extension 2, Circa
21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.circa21.com, 6:45pm Mon Dec 5.
Page to Stage, an evening in Locust Productions
staged reading series; for information, call 515-288-
3672, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St., Des
Moines, IA, http://www.desmoinessocialclub.org,
6pm Wed Dec 7.
Vaudeville Dreams, a play-in-development in
the University of Iowas Workshop Series, written
by Janet Schlapkohl; free; for information, call 319-
335-2700, Cosmo Catalano Acting Studio, Room
172, Theatre Building, Iowa City, IA, http://www.
uiowa.edu/~theatre/season/second.htm, 8pm Thu
Dec 8 and Fri Dec 9.
Lynne Rothrocks Christmas Cabaret, holiday
music, comedy & more with Rothrock and special
guests, Ron DeWitte, Cory Johnson, and Meg
Merckens; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Fri & Sun 1:30pm; $10-
$25; for information and tickets, call 319-622-3222
or e-mail itac@southslope.net, Iowa Theatre Artists
Company, 4709 220th Trail, Amana, IA, http://www.
iowatheatreartists.org, Fri Dec 9 thru Sun Dec 11.
A Christmas Carol, the City Circle Acting
Company of Coralvilles presentation of Charles
Dickens classic holiday tale; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun
2pm; for tickets and information, e-mail info@
citycircle.org or call 319-541-2980, Coralville Center
for the Performing Arts, 1301 5th St., Coralville, IA,
http://citycircle.org, Fri Dec 9 thru Sun Dec 18.
Irving Berlins White Christmas, musical
comedy based on the beloved holiday movie;
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; $10-$18; for tickets
and information, call 319-338-0443, Iowa City
Community Theatre, 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd, Iowa
City, IA, http://www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.
com, Fri Dec 9 thru Sun Dec 18.
Its a Wonderful Life, stage version of Frank
Capras holiday classic; in the Grace Theatre; scheduled
performances Wed.-Sat.; $13-$26; for information
and tickets, call 815-879-5656, Grace Performing
Arts Center, 316 Main St., Princeton, IL, http://www.
festival56.com, Fri Dec 9 thru Fri Dec 23.
A Passion for Murder, an interactive comedy-
mystery and dinner with the Its a Mystery troupe;
$35; for information and reservations, call 563-
359-1607, The Lodge Hotel, 900 Spruce Hills Dr.,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.itsamysteryqc.com,
6:30pm Fri Dec 9.
Rent: School Edition, minimally-modified
version of Jonathan Larsons musical smash; $10;
6:15pm doors, 7pm show, no audiences admitted
after 7pm; for information, call 309-788-5433 or e-
mail info@center4living.com, The Center for Living
Arts, 2008 4th Ave, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
center4living.com, 7pm Fri Dec 9 and Sat Dec 10.
30-Hour Play Project: All I Really Need to
Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Play, at 2 &
4pm; holiday production by Junior Theatre students,
who were given 30 hours to prepare, write, and
rehearse a one-act production with the help of local
professionals; $3 at the door for ages 3 & up; for
information, call 563-326-7862, Davenport Junior
Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport, IA, http://
www.davenportjuniortheatre.com, Sun Dec 11.
A Christmas Carol, the Nebraska Theatre
Caravan tour of Charles Dickens holiday classic;
$12-$29; for tickets and information, call 641-472-
2787, Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing
Arts, Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Fairfield, IA,
http://www.FairfieldACC.com, 7pm Sun Dec 11.
Skellingtons Last Resort, an interactive
comedy-mystery and dinner with the Its a Mystery
troupe; $35; for information and reservations, call
563-344-9187, Skellington Manor Banquet & Event
Center, 420 18th St, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
itsamysteryqc.com, 6:30pm Fri Dec 16.
Collaborators, a play in the new season of
National Theatre Live broadcasts; $15-$18; for
tickets and information, call 319-688-2653, Englert
http://www.englert.org, 7pm Sat Dec 17.
The Boy Who Stole The Stars, family adventure
about a young boys quest to slay a dragon and
save his grandfather; childrens theatre workshops
in the morning; for information, call 563-332-5151,
Pleasant Valley High School - Auditorium, 604
Belmont Rd, Bettendorf, IA, http://www.pleasval.
k12.ia.us/highschool, 1pm Sat Dec 17.
Opening in January
Blind Date, interactive comedy in which a
Parisian temptress goes on a blind date with several
men plucked from of the audience; Wed-Fri 7:30pm,
Sat 5 & 8pm, Sun 3pm; $27.50; for tickets, call 800-
745-3000, Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
Temple Theater, 10th & Locust St., Des Moines, IA,
http://www.civiccenter.org, Wed Jan 4 thru Sun
Jan 22.
Pleasant Valley Alumni Show, production with
former PVHS students; for information, call 563-332-
5151, Pleasant Valley High School - Auditorium, 604
k12.ia.us/highschool, 7pm Fri Jan 6 and Sat Jan 7.
Prenzie Players Annual Fundraising Gala,
fundraiser for the area classical-theatre company,
with theatrical presentations, music, hors doeuvres,
wine, a silent auction, and more; Rivermont
Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Dr., Bettendorf, IA; for
information, e-mail info@prenzieplayers.com,
http://www.prenzieplayers.com, 7pm Sat Jan 7.
Grease, the original high school musical; Wed,
Fri, Sat, and Jan. 12 - 5:45pm doors, 6-7pm buffet,
7:15pm Bootlegger pre-show; 7:45pm show; Sun
- 3:45pm doors, 4-5pm buffet, 5:15pm Bootlegger
pre-show; 5:45pm show; Wed - 11:30am doors,
11:45am-12:45pm plated lunch, 1pm Bootlegger
pre-show; 1:30pm show; for tickets and information,
call 309-786-7733, extension 2, Circa 21 Dinner
Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://
www.circa21.com, 7:45pm Wed Jan 11 thru Wed
Feb 29.
Anne of Avonlea, a family play by Joseph
Robinette, based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery;
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 3pm; for information and
tickets, call 309-762-0330, Playcrafters Barn Theatre,
4950 35th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.playcrafters.
com, 7:30pm Fri Jan 13 thru Sun Jan 22.
Music
Holiday Concerts
November and December
O
ver a 25-day
period, our area
will present so many
holiday concerts at
so many different
venues that I feel
compelled to start
with some bad news: I
have no room here to
open with a joke. Please do your best to control your
disappointment. This tune-laden season begins in
Iowa City, with the University of Iowas Hawkeye-
Carver Arena hosting November 27s 2012 Holiday
Pops Tour featuring the Boston Pops Esplanade and
Rockapella, and ends with Davenports Adler Theatre
staging the multimedia spectacle of The Christmas
Music of Mannheim Steamroller on December 21.
However, to borrow an appropriately chilly analogy,
thats just the tip of the iceberg. The Adler will also
offer seasonal classics and new compositions with
singer/songwriter Jim Brickmans November 28
concert A Christmas Celebration, while across the
Mississippi, the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse delivers
holiday treats with the touring artists of Branson on
the Road: Christmas Style on December 1 and 2. The
Rock Island theatres sister venue will find members
of Circa 21s performing wait staff (the Bootleggers)
and the cast of its current Nuncrackers celebrating
Christmas at the Speakeasy on December 8, with the
gifted womens ensemble Hersong, on December 3,
presenting its seventh-annual Warm Winter Concert
at Rock Islands St. Johns Lutheran Church. The citys
Augustana College, meanwhile, has three holiday
events scheduled: the choral and instrumental
collaboration Christmas at Augustana (December
2 and 3); the annual presentation of Handels
Messiah (December 10 and 11); and the story of
Christs birth told through song in Lessons & Carols
(December 15). Davenports St. Ambrose University
will also get in the holiday spirit with the vocal and
instrumental talents of December 9s Christmas
Showcase Concert, with Molines Black Hawk College
offering seasonal classics of its own in December 8s
Holiday Choral Concert. The Moline Boys Choir will
help the citys Butterworth Center celebrate A 19th
Century Christmas on December 4, and one of our
areas premier vocal ensembles invites you to spend
Christmas with the Quad City Singers at Colonas
Lavender Crest Winery (December 9 and 10).
Continuing outside Illinois Quad Cities, the Peoria
Civic Center hosts the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas
Show on November 29, while Galesburg stages the
Choral Dynamics Christmas Gospel December 2
through 4; in Iowa, Cedar Rapids CSPS/Legion Arts
delivers an Irish Christmas in America on December
5 and 6, with the Riverside Casino & Event Center
hosting Eddie Money, Lou Gramm, and Mickey
Thomas in Jingle Bell Rock on December 10. And for
a seasonal event in and out of the Quad Cities, the
professional vocal ensemble the Nova Singers brings
its annual Nova Christmas to the St. Paul Lutheran
Church of Davenport on December 16, and the First
Lutheran Church of Galesburg on December 17. And
now Im done, to which I say: Christmas Carols:
God Bless Us, Everyone! Oh, wait. Thats the title of
the holiday concert at Davenports First Presbyterian
Church on December 17 and 18. Okay. Now Im
done. Mike Schulz
Jim Brickman: A
Christmas Celebration
itsamysteryqc.com, 6:30pm Fri Jan 13.
Pleasant Valley Variety Show, production
with PVHS students and faculty; for information,
call 563-332-5151, Pleasant Valley High School -
Auditorium, 604 Belmont Rd, Bettendorf, IA, http://
www.pleasval.k12.ia.us/highschool, 7pm Tue Jan
17.
Rock of Ages, arena-rock love story told through
80s hits; $39-$59; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7:30pm Tue
Jan 17 and Wed Jan 18.
Bad Habits, New Ground Theatres presentation
of locally-written one-acts, directed by Jan Schmall;
Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; $15-$18; for tickets and
information, call 563-326-7529, Village Theatre,
2113 E 11th St, Village of East Davenport, IA, http://
www.newgroundtheatre.org, Thu Jan 19 thru Sun
Feb 5.
Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical Comedy,
Riversides return of the musical about ice fishing,
cold beer, good bait, and the Green Bay Packers;
Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; $15-29; for tickets and
information, call 319-338-7672, Riverside Theatre,
213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.
riversidetheatre.org, Fri Jan 20 thru Sun Feb 19.
center4living.com, 7pm Sat Jan 21.
Portraits of the Prairie, presentations by
the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre at 2 & 4pm of
a series of tableaus showing the history of the
land from native prairie through early settlers
and small farms, through large agriculture, and
back to reconstructed prairie; with live music
by Ron Hillis; $5; for information, call 319-627-
2487 or e-mail owlglass@avalon.net, New Strand
Theatre, 111 E. 3rd St., West Liberty, IA, http://www.
PuppetsPuppets.com, 2pm Sun Jan 22.
Lord of the Underworlds Home for Unwed
Mothers, written and directed by Louisa Hill; Thu-
Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm; $5; for information, call 319-
335-2700, Theatre B - University of Iowa, Theatre
Building, 200 N. Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://
www.uiowa.edu/~theatre/season/second.htm,
Thu Jan 26 thru Sun Jan 29.
How I Learned to Drive, Paula Vogels darkly
comedic Pulitzer Prize winner, directed by Jennifer
Popple; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 1:30pm; $9-$11;
Augustana College, Potter Hall, 3701 7th Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu/academics/
theatre/department, Fri Jan 27 thru Sun Feb 5.
The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wildes
classic period comedy; scheduled performances
Thu-Sun; $12-$25; for tickets and information, call
319-366-8591, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd St SE,
Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.theatrecr.org, Fri Jan
27 thru Sat Feb 18.
Spartan Showcase, one-acts, improv, and more,
by students who took their performances to Large
Group Competition; for information, call 563-332-
5151, Pleasant Valley High School - Auditorium, 604
k12.ia.us/highschool, 7pm Mon Jan 30.
Opening in February
Jenga, written and directed by Deborah Yarchun;
Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm; $5; for information, call
319-335-2700, Theatre B - University of Iowa,
Theatre Building, 200 N. Riverside Dr., Iowa City, IA,
http://www.uiowa.edu/~theatre/season/second.
htm, Thu Feb 2 thru Sun Feb 5.
Company, Stephen Sondheims Tony Award-
winning musical about life, love, and middle
age; Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm; $15; for tickets and
information, call 309-235-1654 or e-mail tristan@
districttheatre.com, The District Theatre, 1611 2nd
Ave, Rock Island, IL, http://www.districttheatre.
com, Fri Feb 3 thru Sat Feb 18.
The Color Purple, Tony-winning musical based
on Alice Walkers acclaimed book, in a Broadway at
the Adler Theatre presentation; for tickets, call 800-
645-3000, Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.adlertheatre.com, 7:30pm Tue Feb
7.
West Side Story, touring production of the
Tony-winning Broadway revival; Tue-Sat 7:30pm,
Sat 2pm, Sun 1 & 6:30pm; $20 & up; for tickets,
call 800-745-3000, Civic Center of Greater Des
Moines, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines, IA, http://www.
civiccenter.org, Tue Feb 7 thru Sun Feb 12.
The Queen of Bingo, games and comedy in the
famed production starring Shane Partlow; $22.50-
27.50; sandwiches and appetizers available for
purchase; for tickets and information, call 309-786-
7733, extension 2, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828
3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com,
7pm Thu Feb 9.
Endgame, Samuel Becketts absurdist classic;
Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm; for information, call
319-398-5899, Ballantyne Auditorium, Iowa Hall,
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA,
http://www.kirkwood.edu, Thu Feb 9 thru Sun
Feb 12.
Scenery, two-person show-biz comedy by Ed
Dixon; scheduled performances Thursdays thru
Saturdays; $15; for tickets and information, call 309-
235-1654, The District Theatre, 1611 2nd Ave, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.districttheatre.com, Thu Feb
9 thru Sat Feb 25.
On Golden Pond, Ernest Thompsons Tony-
winning comedy-drama; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm;
Marquetta Senters, Jef Hafner, Amber Snyder, D. Allan Boettger, and James
Fleming in the Old Creamery Theatres A Dont Hug Me Christmas Carol
through December 18
$8-$15; for tickets and information, call 563-652-
9815, Ohnward Fine Arts Center, 1215 E Platt St.,
Maquoketa, IA, http://www.ohnwardfineartscenter.
com, Fri Feb 10 thru Sun Feb 12.
Sans Merci, Dreamwell Theatres production of
Johnna Adams drama; venue TBD; Fri & Sat 7:30pm;
for information, e-mail info@dreamwell.com,
Downtown Iowa City, Iowa City, IA, http://www.
dreamwell.com, Fri Feb 10 thru Sat Feb 18.
In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Sarah
Ruhls comedy of sexual awakening in the Victorian
era; Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm; $10-$17; for information
and tickets, call 319-335-1160, E. C. Mabie Theatre,
University of Iowa Theatre Building - 200 N. Riverside
Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/
tickets, Fri Feb 10 thru Sun Feb 19.
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar
Wilde, Moises Kaufmans drama of the British wits
final years; scheduled performances Thursdays thru
Sundays; $12-$25; for tickets and information, call
319-366-8591, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd St SE,
Cedar Rapids, IA, http://www.theatrecr.org, 7:30pm
Fri Feb 10 thru Sun Feb 26.
Fish Face, at 10am & 1pm; an ArtsPower
production that draws from the popular Kids of
the Polk Street School series by author Patricia
Reilly Giff; a presentation in the Lights! Camera!
Learn! series; free, with reservations required; for
information and to reserve, call 309-342-2299 or
e-mail tickets@theorpheum.org, The Orpheum
Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg St., Galesburg, IL, http://www.
theorpheum.org, Mon Feb 13.
Ten-Minute Play Festival, for information, call
319-335-2700, Cosmo Catalano Acting Studio,
Room 172, Theatre Building, Iowa City, IA, http://
www.uiowa.edu/~theatre/season/second.htm,
8pm Thu Feb 16.
Neighborhood 3 Requisition of Doom, horror
videogame satire by Jennifer Haley, directed by
Zachary Mannheimer; Thu-Sun 7:30pm; a presentation
by Locust Productions; for information, call 515-288-
3672, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St., Des
Moines, IA, http://www.desmoinessocialclub.org,
Thu Feb 16 thru Sun Feb 26.
Equus, a Curtainbox Theatre Company
presentation of Peter Shaffers Tony Award-winning
psychological drama; venue to be determined; Thu-
Sat & Tue 7:30pm, Sun 3pm; for information and
tickets, call 563-650-8121 or e-mail reservations@
thecurtainbox.com, http://thecurtainbox.com, Thu
Feb 16 thru Tue Feb 28.
itsamysteryqc.com, 6:30pm Fri Feb 17.
Mia the Melodramatic, Junior Theatres
production of a family adventure written and
adapted by JT alum Eileen Boggess; Sat 1 & 4pm,
Sun 2pm; $5 at the door for ages 3 & up; for
www.davenportjuniortheatre.com, Sat Feb 18
thru Sun Feb 26.
center4living.com, 7pm Sat Feb 18.
The Rivalry, an L.A. Theatre Works presentation
exploring the Lincoln-Douglas debates conflict and
compromise; $18.50-$42; a Hancher Auditorium
presentation; $22-$40; for tickets and information,
call 319-335-1160, Englert Theatre, 221 East
Washington St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.
uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Thu Feb 23.
Dr. Faustus, Christopher Marlowe tragedy
directed by Kristin Clippard; Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm;
$5; for information, call 319-335-2700, Theatre B -
University of Iowa, Theatre Building, 200 N. Riverside
Dr., Iowa City, IA, http://www.uiowa.edu/~theatre/
season/second.htm, Thu Feb 23 thru Sun Feb 26.
Puppets & Pastries Dessert Theatre For Adults,
a presentation by the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
featuring sweets and beverages; for information,
call 319-627-2487 or e-mail owlglass@avalon.net,
New Strand Theatre, 111 E. 3rd St., West Liberty, IA,
http://www.PuppetsPuppets.com, Fri Feb 24.
Radium Girls, drama about the women who had
mysteriously fallen ill in the 1920s after working on
luminous watches and being exposed to radium; for
information, call 563-332-5151, Pleasant Valley High
School - Auditorium, 604 Belmont Rd, Bettendorf,
IA, http://www.pleasval.k12.ia.us/highschool, 7pm
Fri Feb 24 and Sat Feb 25.
The Plagiarists, debuting drama on art,
relationships, and life, written by Aaron Randolph
III; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 3pm; $7-$11; for tickets
and information, call 563-333-6251, Galvin Fine Arts
sau.edu/galvin, Fri Feb 24 thru Sun Feb 26.
South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammersteins
Pulitzer Prize-winning musical classic; $39-$59;
for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Peoria Civic Center,
peoriaciviccenter.com, 7:30pm Tue Feb 28 and
Wed Feb 29.
AU0l7l0N5
Parade - The Pillowman - Avenue Q, auditions
for Aprils productions of the Jason Robert Brown
musical Parade and Martin McDonaghs dark
comedy Pillowman, and Junes production of the
Tony-winning musical Avenue Q; bring a headshot
and resume, and prepare 16 bars if auditioning for
the musicals; be prepared to read from scripts; for
information, call 309-235-1654 or e-mail tristan@
districttheatre.com, The District Theatre, 1611 2nd
Ave, Rock Island, IL, http://www.districttheatre.
com, 1pm Sat Dec 3.
Riverside Theatre Summer Shakespeare
Festival 2012, auditions for productions of As You
Like It, directed by Theodore Swetz and opening
June 15, and The Merchant of Venice, directed by
Kristin Horton and opening June 22; prepare two
contrasting monologues, one classical and one
contemporary, lasting no more than three minutes
total; for information and to schedule an audition,
call 319-338-7672, Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.riversidetheatre.org,
12pm Sat Dec 3.
The Plagiarists, auditions for debuting play by
Aaron Randolph III, running Feb. 24-26; be prepared
to read from the script; for information, call 563-
333-6251, Galvin Fine Arts Center, 2101 Gaines St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu, 4pm Wed Dec
7 and Thu Dec 8.
If Its Monday, This Must Be Murder, auditions
for comedy-mystery running Mar. 9-18, directed
by Gary Clark; for information, call 309-762-0330,
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Ave., Moline,
IL, http://www.playcrafters.com, 7pm Sun Jan 15
thru Tue Jan 17.
Reasons to Be Pretty, auditions for studio-
theatre presentation of Neil LaButes dark comedy,
running March 22-24; be prepared to read from the
script; for information, call 563-333-6251, Studio
Theatre - Galvin Fine Arts Center, St. Ambrose
University, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.sau.edu, 4pm Tue Feb 7 and Wed Feb 8.
A Midsummer Nights Dream, auditions for
William Shakespeares comedy, running Apr. 13-15;
be prepared to read from the script; Mon 5pm, Wed
4pm; for information, call 563-333-6251, Galvin Fine
Arts Center, 2101 Gaines St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.sau.edu, Mon Feb 27 and Wed Feb 29.
CLA555
Curtainbox Theatre Company: Private Acting
Coaching, we offer private coaching for Stage,
Musical Theatre, and Film Acting, College Audition
Prep, and Professional Audition Prep; one-on-
one coaching is available to students starting at
age five; be sure to ask about rates, availability,
and instructors; for information, contact Kimberly
Furness at 563-322-8504 or Kim@thecurtainbox.
com, Curtainbox Theatre & Conservatory, 2850
Eastern Ave., Suite #200, Davenport, IA, http://
thecurtainbox.com, Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Feb 29.
Thank you.
Whats Happenin
Lecture
Eboo Patel
Centennial Hall
Thursday, December 1, 10:30 a.m.
D
o you ever experience
those days where
you feel like youve done
nothing significant with
your life? If not, allow me
to say (a) congratulations,
and (b) you might want
to consider attending
Augustana Colleges
December 1 presentation
with Eboo Patel. I guarantee, youll feel like the rest of us
in no time.
It would probably be enough for Patel, a native of the
Chicago suburbs, to have attended Oxford University, where
he studied on a Rhodes scholarship, and where he received
his doctorate in the sociology of religion. And it would
probably be more than enough for the man to have served
on the advisory board of Duke Universitys Islamic Studies
Center, and to have had his own blog, The Faith Divide,
on the Web site for the Washington Post.
But at age 35, heres just a short list of Patels other
notable accomplishments:
He was a member of President Obamas inaugural
Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood
Partnerships.
Hes the founder and executive director of the
Chicago-based organization Interfaith Youth Core, a
national movement with a presence at some 150 colleges
and universities.
Hes the author of the award-winning book Acts of
Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the
Soul of a Generation.
He was named One of Americas Best Leaders of 2009
by U.S. News & World Report.
And he just received the $50,000 Guru Nanak Interfaith
Prize, awarded biannually to individuals or organizations that
promote religious dialogue in the pursuit of peace.
Presenting a lecture titled Acts of Faith: Interfaith
Leadership in a Time of Global Religious Crisis, Patel is sure
to deliver both insight and inspiration when he appears in
Augustanas Centennial Hall. And if youd like to know more
about the man before his area arrival, be sure to follow him
on Twitter (@eboopatel), where recent posts mention his new
book in the works, his meeting with the Dalai Lama, and how
much he enjoys Seth Rogen and the film 50/50.
All these accomplishments and he reviews movies? Now I
really feel like Ive done nothing significant with my life.
For more information on Eboo Patels Quad Cities
appearance, call (309)794-7721 or visit Augustana.edu.
Theatre
Tartuffe
Skellington Manor
Friday, December 2, through Sunday, December 11
T
he Prenzie Players latest show
Is called Tartuffe. Youll want to go
Because the plays by Molire
(Hence, diff rent from their Shakespare fare)
And as an author, it is writ,
His works all boast ferocious wit,
With characters both vain and wise
Who cloak their truths in silly lies.
Tartuffe, for sure, is of this bent:
He gets in a predicament
That leads to much chicanery
Amongst the aristocracy.
The plays a hoot (and I should know
I acted in it years ago),
And given those in Prenzies cast
This thing cant help but be a blast.
Theres Yoder, Moeller, Sheridan,
and Angie Rathman. Oh, and then
Makula (Jeb) and Driscoll (Jim)
Theyre sure to act with style and vim.
So get your tickets to Tartuffe
(The sales just might go through the roof)
And revel in the joy and ease
Of rhymes far cleverer than these.
Tartuffe will be performed Fridays through
Sundays, December 2 through 11, at Rock Islands
Skellington Manor, and tickets are available by
calling (309)278-8426 or visiting PrenziePlayers.
com.
A n s w e r s : 1 B , 2 A , 3 C , 4 A , 5 B , 6 A , 7 C , 8 C , 9 B . A n d i f y o u r e w o n d e r i n g a b o u t t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h a t l a s t s o n g , I m t h i n k i n g t h a t o n D e c e m b e r 3 , i t s g o n n a b e R I B C O .
Music
Daytrotter Wish List Benefit Concert
featuring M. Ward
Rock Island Brewing Company
Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m.
B
ack in the 80s, after
attending a stage
production in Chicago, I
met actress Kim Cattrall.
Cattrall was in Sex & the
City with Sarah Jessica
Parker. Parker was in the movie Failure to Launch with
Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel performs in the indie-
pop duo She & Him with M. Ward. That makes me
separated by Ward by only four degrees. Cool.
Of course, its possible to boast a separation-degree of one,
if youre lucky enough to chat with the
singer/songwriter after his December
3 engagement at the Rock Island
Brewing Company. Performing in a
Daytrotter-sponsored benefit concert,
with all proceeds benefiting the Quad-
City Times Wish List Fund, Ward will
headline the evenings event with his
incredible guitar-playing prowess and
signature vocal stylings a blend that
led Gibson.com to call Ward the guy
who makes new music sound like its
from a 1940s radio show, and who makes old songs feel like
they could have been written yesterday.
With the Los Angeles Times describing the musician as
a gifted writer with a rich, understated feel for tales, and
the Daily Nebraskan calling him our generations greatest
lyricist, Wards songwriting skills are as notable as his
performance gifts, all of which are evidenced by the mans
offerings as a solo artist, as half of She & Him, and as a
member of the super-group Monsters of Folk. Test your
knowledge of M. Wards output in the quiz above. Which
songs are from his solo CD Hold Time, which are from She
& Hims Volume Two, and which are from the Monsters of
Folks self-titled debut?
M. Ward performs Daytrotters Wish List Benefit with
guest musicians Laura Marling, Carlos Forster, and Mike
Coykendall, and for more information on the night, call
(309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
1) Baby Boomer
2) For Beginners
3) Im Gonna Make It Better
4) Jailbird
5) Losin Yo Head
6) One Hundred Million Years
7) Over It Over Again
8) Ridin in My Car
9) The Right Place
A) Hold Time
B) Monsters of Folk
C) Volume Two
Lecture
Eboo Patel
Centennial Hall
Thursday, December 1, 10:30 a.m.
D
o you ever experience
those days where
you feel like youve done
nothing significant with
your life? If not, allow me
to say (a) congratulations,
and (b) you might want
to consider attending
Augustana Colleges
December 1 presentation
with Eboo Patel. I guarantee, youll feel like the rest of us
in no time.
It would probably be enough for Patel, a native of the
Chicago suburbs, to have attended Oxford University, where
he studied on a Rhodes scholarship, and where he received
his doctorate in the sociology of religion. And it would
probably be more than enough for the man to have served
on the advisory board of Duke Universitys Islamic Studies
Center, and to have had his own blog, The Faith Divide,
on the Web site for the Washington Post.
But at age 35, heres just a short list of Patels other
notable accomplishments:
He was a member of President Obamas inaugural
Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood
Partnerships.
Hes the founder and executive director of the
Chicago-based organization Interfaith Youth Core, a
national movement with a presence at some 150 colleges
and universities.
Hes the author of the award-winning book Acts of
Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the
Soul of a Generation.
He was named One of Americas Best Leaders of 2009
by U.S. News & World Report.
And he just received the $50,000 Guru Nanak Interfaith
Prize, awarded biannually to individuals or organizations that
promote religious dialogue in the pursuit of peace.
Presenting a lecture titled Acts of Faith: Interfaith
Leadership in a Time of Global Religious Crisis, Patel is sure
to deliver both insight and inspiration when he appears in
Augustanas Centennial Hall. And if youd like to know more
about the man before his area arrival, be sure to follow him
on Twitter (@eboopatel), where recent posts mention his new
book in the works, his meeting with the Dalai Lama, and how
much he enjoys Seth Rogen and the film 50/50.
All these accomplishments and he reviews movies? Now I
really feel like Ive done nothing significant with my life.
For more information on Eboo Patels Quad Cities
appearance, call (309)794-7721 or visit Augustana.edu.
Literature
Jill Alexander Essbaum
Wallenberg Hall
Wednesday, November 30, 7 p.m.
T
he latest guest in the colleges River
Readings at Augustana series is
the famed Christian erotic poet Jill
Alexander Essbaum, and if youre at all
put off by the accompanying photo of
the author, you may want to steer clear
of her poem titled On Reading Poorly
Transcribed Erotica, which
begins: She stood before
him wearing only pantries
/ and he groped for her
Volvo under the gauze. /
She had saved her public
hair, and his cook / went
hard as a fist. They fell to
the bad. Believe me when I say it just
gets dirtier, and funnier, from there.
The 1999 winner of the renowned
Bakeless Prize for poetry, Essbaum has
stated that her works focus solely on
her three biggest obsessions: God, sex,
and death. And according to reviewers,
theyre subjects that Essbaum the
author of a half-dozen published
poetry collections has explored with
fascinating, evocative, and oftentimes
hilarious artfulness. (Not for nothing
did she receive a fellowship from the
National Endowment for the Arts.)
Writing in the blog Strong Verse,
critic G.M. Palmer raved, No poet
today dares play with such spiritual
fire like Jill Alexander Essbaum does.
Her poems skirt the edge of blasphemy
and pray for re-readings and a spiritual
embrace ... . A reader would be hard-
pressed to find finer contemporary
verse.
The literary magazine Coldfront
found critic Rick Marlatt writing,
Known for their remarkable mix of
eroticism and religiosity, Jill Alexander
Essbaums poems vibrate with well-
proportioned rhymes, unforgettable
imagery, and a unique realization of
form.
But perhaps the best way
to get a sense of Essbaum is
to read the artists thesis ...
or rather, her anti-thesis, as
stated on the online journal
Anti-Poetry.com: Things
Im against: Poetries that take
themselves too seriously.
Humorless poetries. Vague,
forgettable words. The overuse of
gerunds. Craftlessness. Boredom-
inducing poems. Half-assed-ness
in all forms. Poetries that dont
take themselves seriously enough.
Experimental art that isnt. Formal
fascism. And, for what its worth, Im
also against Scientology.
And you thought Augustanas night
of poetry readings might be dry.
Jill Alexander Essbaum reads from
her works in Wallenberg Hall on
November 30, and more information
on her appearance is available by
calling (309)794-7721 or visiting
Augustana.edu.
by Mike Schulz
mike@rcreader.com
What Ise
ls Happenin
MUSIC
Saturday, November 26 Birthday Bash
for the Queen of Rust. Celebration for Danielle
Colby-Cushman of American Pickers and
Burlesque Le Moustache fame, with music by
The Dirt Daubers, Sean & Zander, The Calamity
Cubes, Willie Tea Taylor, and The Krank Daddies.
Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second
Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. $10. For information,
call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Saturday, November 26 Little River Band.
Concert with the legendary Australian vocal
band. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center
(1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $20-30.
For tickets and information, call (800)724-5825 or
visit Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.
Saturday, November 26 Carol Montag.
Acclaimed folk singer/songwriter in concert.
Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt
Street, Maquoketa). 7 p.m. $10-20. For tickets
and information, call (563)652-9815 or visit
OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
Saturday, November 26 Kelly
Pardekooper. CD-release show with the singer/
songwriter and native Iowan. Englert Theatre
(221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m.
$12. For tickets and information, call (319)688-
2653 or visit Englert.org.
Sunday, November 27 Boston Esplanade
Orchestra with Rockapella. The renowned
musicians and a cappella vocalists in their 2011
Holiday Pops Tour,in a Hancher Auditorium
Presentation. Carver-Hawkeye Arena (1 Elliot
Drive, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $17.50-90. For tickets
and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit
A n s w e r s : 1 B , 2 A , 3 C , 4 A , 5 B , 6 A , 7 C , 8 C , 9 B . A n d i f y o u r e w o n d e r i n g a b o u t t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h a t l a s t s o n g , I m t h i n k i n g t h a t o n D e c e m b e r 3 , i t s g o n n a b e R I B C O .
Music
Daytrotter Wish List Benefit Concert
featuring M. Ward
Rock Island Brewing Company
Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m.
B
ack in the 80s, after
attending a stage
production in Chicago, I
met actress Kim Cattrall.
Cattrall was in Sex & the
City with Sarah Jessica
Parker. Parker was in the movie Failure to Launch with
Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel performs in the indie-
pop duo She & Him with M. Ward. That makes me
separated by Ward by only four degrees. Cool.
Of course, its possible to boast a separation-degree of one,
if youre lucky enough to chat with the
singer/songwriter after his December
3 engagement at the Rock Island
Brewing Company. Performing in a
Daytrotter-sponsored benefit concert,
with all proceeds benefiting the Quad-
City Times Wish List Fund, Ward will
headline the evenings event with his
incredible guitar-playing prowess and
signature vocal stylings a blend that
led Gibson.com to call Ward the guy
who makes new music sound like its
from a 1940s radio show, and who makes old songs feel like
they could have been written yesterday.
With the Los Angeles Times describing the musician as
a gifted writer with a rich, understated feel for tales, and
the Daily Nebraskan calling him our generations greatest
lyricist, Wards songwriting skills are as notable as his
performance gifts, all of which are evidenced by the mans
offerings as a solo artist, as half of She & Him, and as a
member of the super-group Monsters of Folk. Test your
knowledge of M. Wards output in the quiz above. Which
songs are from his solo CD Hold Time, which are from She
& Hims Volume Two, and which are from the Monsters of
Folks self-titled debut?
M. Ward performs Daytrotters Wish List Benefit with
guest musicians Laura Marling, Carlos Forster, and Mike
Coykendall, and for more information on the night, call
(309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
1) Baby Boomer
2) For Beginners
3) Im Gonna Make It Better
4) Jailbird
5) Losin Yo Head
6) One Hundred Million Years
7) Over It Over Again
8) Ridin in My Car
9) The Right Place
A) Hold Time
B) Monsters of Folk
C) Volume Two
Beginning Adult Acting, Tuesdays thru Mar.
13; intended for the beginning actor, the class
covers the basics of acting, terminology, and
what goes into the theatre process; culminates
in a performance the last week of class; $90; for
www.davenportjuniortheatre.com, 7:15pm Tue
Jan 10.
PRF0RMANC5
December
UI Dance Collaborative Performance, featuring
performances by University of Iowa dance students;
Space/Place Theatre, North Hall, UI Campus, Iowa
City, IA, http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets,
8pm Thu Dec 1 thru Sat Dec 3.
The Nutcracker, the holiday classic presented
by the Englert Theatre & the Nolte Academy of
Dance; featuring a live orchestra of local musicians,
conducted by Carey Bostian; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sat
& Sun 2pm; $16-22; for tickets and information, call
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.englert.org, Fri Dec 2
thru Sun Dec 4.
The Moscow Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker,
featuring larger-than-life puppets, hand-painted
backdrops, hundreds of original Russian costumes,
and the world-renowned dancers; Mon. 7:30pm,
Tue. 2pm; $30-$50; for tickets and information, call
309-342-2299, The Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg
St., Galesburg, IL, http://www.theorpheum.org,
Mon Dec 5 and Tue Dec 6.
Ballet Quad Cities Nutcracker Behind-the-
Scenes Sneak Peek, for groups of 20 or more; see
what goes on behind the scenes of The Nutcracker
ballet during dress rehearsal; $20/person; all ticket
sales go to BQCs anti-bullying program in area
schools; for information, call 309-786-3779, Adler
Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
balletquadcities.com, Thu Dec 8.
UI Dance Graduate/Undergraduate Concert,
featuring performances by University of Iowa
dance students; for tickets and information, call
319-335-1160, Space/Place Theatre, North Hall, UI
Campus, Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.uiowa.
edu/tickets, 8pm Thu Dec 8 thru Sat Dec 10.
The Nutcracker, Ballet Quad Citiesproduction of
the holiday classic; Sat & Sun 2pm, Sat. 8pm; $10-35;
for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Adler Theatre, 136 E.
3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.balletquadcities.
com, Sat Dec 10 and Sun Dec 11.
The Nutcracker, Tchaikovskys masterpiece
performed by the Peoria Ballet; Sat. 7:30pm, Sun
2pm; $10-43; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Peoria
Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL, http://
www.peoriaciviccenter.com, Sat Dec 10 and Sun
Dec 11.
UI Dance Dance Forum/UI Youth Ballet Winter
Concert, featuring performances by University
of Iowa dance students; Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm; for
tickets and information, call 319-335-1160, Space/
Place Theatre, North Hall, UI Campus, Iowa City, IA,
http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets, Sat Dec 17
and Sun Dec 18.
January & February
Rioult, modern dance company with a
reputation for creating and presenting the sensual,
articulate, and exquisitely musical works of Pascal
Rioulta; a presentation in the Galvin Fine Arts series
and the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist series; $8-$11;
for information, call 563-333-6251, Galvin Fine Arts
sau.edu, 7:30pm Sat Jan 28.
Love Stories: Love on the Run!, an evening
of mixed repertoire with Ballet Quad Cities; Fri
& Sat 8pm, Sat 2pm; for information, call 309-
786-3779; Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College,
3520 7th Avenue, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
balletquadcities.com, Fri Feb 17 and Sat Feb 18.
UI Dance Faculty/Graduate Concert, featuring
performances by University of Iowa dancers; for
tickets and information, call 319-335-1160, Space/
Place Theatre, North Hall, UI Campus, Iowa City, IA,
http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets, 8pm Thu
Feb 16 thru Sat Feb 18.
Diavolo, performance by the Los Angeles-based
dance company, in which everyday items such as
doors, chairs and stairways provide the backdrop
for dramatic movement that creates metaphors for
the challenge of relationships, the absurdities of
life, and the struggle to maintain our humanity in
an increasingly technological world; an in-theater
conversation and Q&A with the dancers follows
the performance; $27.50 & up; for tickets, call 800-
745-3000, Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, 221
Walnut St., Des Moines, IA, http://www.civiccenter.
org, 7:30pm Sat Feb 18.
CLA555 & VN75
Ongoing
Ballroom Dance, on Wednesdays; for
information, call 309-798-0279 or e-mail
qcsoda@gmail.com, QC SoDa Dance Studio,
1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.qcsoda.
com, 7:15pm Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Ballroom Dance Lessons, on Wednesdays;
com, 6:30pm Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Beginners Ballroom Dance Lessons, on
Wednesdays; $8; for information, call 309-798-
0279 or e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com, QC SoDa
Dance Studio, 1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.qcsoda.com, 6:30pm Wed Nov 23 thru
Wed Dec 28.
A. Rhythmic Time Dance Lessons, private
and group lessons available in swing, ballroom,
hip-hop, Latin, tango, and more; for information,
call 309-786-4800, A. Rhythmic Time Dance
Studio, 5447 3rd Ave. Unit B, Moline, IL, http://
www.arhythmictime.com, Wed Nov 23 thru
Wed Feb 29.
Learn to Dance the Arthur Murray Way,
teaching dance to the world for 97 years; first
lesson free; mention this notification and save
up to 25%; for information, call 563-326-4321,
Arthur Murray Dance Studios, 221 1/2 Brady St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.arthurmurray.com,
Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Feb 29.
A. Rhythmic Time Social Dance, on
Thursdays with the dance studio students; for
information, call 309-786-4800, A. Rhythmic
Time Dance Studio, 5447 3rd Ave. Unit B, Moline,
IL, http://www.arhythmictime.com, 8pm Thu
Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Beginners Salsa Lessons, on Thursdays; $7;
for information, call 309-798-0279 or e-mail
com, 6:30pm Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Salsa Lessons, on Fridays; learn the basics,
and then move into more intermediate material
as the night progresses; $7; for information, call
309-798-0279 or e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com, QC
SoDa Dance Studio, 1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL,
http://www.qcsoda.com, 7pm Fri Nov 25 thru
Fri Dec 30.
Line Dance Lessons, on Saturdays; learn
line dances that go with all kinds of music; $7;
com, 11am Sat Nov 26 thru Sat Dec 31.
Hip Hop Dance Class, on Sundays; taught
by LaDerrick Gamble; ages 15 & under must be
accompanied by an adult; for information, call
309-631-4525, Voss Brothers Lofts Building, 219
21st St, Rock Island, IL, 5pm Sun Nov 27 thru
Sun Dec 25.
Belly Dance Lessons, on Mondays; $8;
com, 6pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Salsa Lessons, on Mondays; learn the basics,
and then move into more intermediate material
as the night progresses; $7; for information, call
http://www.qcsoda.com, 7pm Mon Nov 28 thru
Mon Dec 26.
West Coast Lessons, on Mondays; $8;
com, 7pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Flight School Dance Party, on Tuesdays; $2
cocktails, Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St, Iowa
City, IA, http://www.iowacityyachtclub.org, 8pm
Tue Nov 29 thru Tue Dec 27.
Beginners Swing Lessons, on Tuesdays;
Korah takes the beginners through the basics
of east coast; afterward, the class joins the
intermediate class for a 7:15pm dance; $8;
com, 6:30pm Tue Nov 29 thru Tue Dec 27.
Intermediate Swing Lessons, on Tuesdays;
Gunter teaches east coast steps and integrates
some lindy, charleston, and other dances; class
joins the beginners class afterward for a 7:15pm
dance; $8; for information, call 309-798-0279
or e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com, QC SoDa Dance
Studio, 1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.
qcsoda.com, 6:30pm Tue Nov 29 thru Tue Dec
27.
Swing Dance, on Tuesdays; practice your
steps or come for the great music; $8, free with
registration in class; $8; for information, call
http://www.qcsoda.com, 7:15pm Tue Nov 29
thru Tue Dec 27.
December thru February
Social Dance @ QC SoDa, 6:30pm class with
Gunter, 7pm dance with DJ Amy; $10, or $4 for
students; for information, call 309-798-0279 or e-
mail qcsoda@gmail.com, QC SoDa Dance Studio,
1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.qcsoda.com,
6:30pm Sat Dec 3.
6:30pm Sat Dec 17.
Jazz / Hip-Hop for Adults, Wednesdays thru
Mar. 14; high-energy, contemporary routines
using current moves and popular music; $65; for
information and to register, call 563-326-7862,
Davenport Junior Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.davenportjuniortheatre.
com, 7:30pm Wed Jan 11.
6:30pm Sat Jan 21.
6:30pm Sat Feb 18.
Ongoing
Half-Price Studio Wednesdays, 1/2-price
studio fee all day; for information, call 309-762-
2224, Fireworks Coffeehouse, 2139 16th St.,
Moline, IL, http://www.fireworksmoline.com,
6:30am Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Quad Cities Trivia, on Wednesdays; free;
alueders@quadcitiestrivia.com, Twenty Sports
Grille & Nightclub, 1405 5th Ave., Moline, IL,
http://www.facebook.com/quadcitiestrivia,
7pm Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Free Pool Night, on Wednesdays; for
information, call 309-517-1040, McManus Pub,
1401 7th Ave, Moline, IL, Wed Nov 23 thru Wed
Feb 29.
Senior Independence, on Thursdays;
senior advocate Vicky Ertel is available to help
link older adults, their family members, and
caregivers with local, state, and federal benefits
and programs to help them remain in their
home for as long as possible; meet with Vicky to
discuss options to stay independent, enjoy an
improved quality of life, and remain connected
to your community; for information, call 563-
386-7477, CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035
W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.
casiseniors.org, 10am Nov 24 thru Dec 27.
Quad Cities Trivia, on Thursdays; free;
alueders@quadcitiestrivia.com, Brady Street
Pub, 217 Brady St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
facebook.com/quadcitiestrivia, 8pm Nov 24
thru Dec 29.
Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bix Bistro, seating at
10:30am & 12:30pm; with unlimited complimentary
mimosas or bloody Marys, and music by the Josh
Duffee Band; $17.95 adults, $8.95 ages 12 & under;
for information and to reserve, call 563-484-5900,
Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.hotelblackhawk.com, Sun Nov 27
thru Sun Dec 25.
Prayers for World Peace, on Sundays; share
a short series of Buddhist prayers extracted
from texts by Shantideva and Geshe Langri
Tangpa by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso;
free; for information, call 563-322-1600, Lamrim
Kadampa Buddhist Center, 502 1/2 3rd St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.meditateiniowa.org,
10am Sun Nov 27 thru Sun Feb 26.
Mocha Mondays, $2 mochas every Monday;
for information, call 309-762-2224, Fireworks
Coffeehouse, 2139 16th St., Moline, IL, http://
www.fireworksmoline.com, 6:30am Mon Nov
28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Shuffleboard, on Mondays; $2 for members;
for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center
for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road,
Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org,
2:15pm Nov 28 thru Dec 26.
Tuesday Trivia, for information, call 563-359-
1015, Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340
Spruce Hills Dr., Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
myspace.com/uptownneighborhoodbar, Nov
29 thru Dec 27.
November
Quad City Arts Festival of Trees, annual
event featuring holiday vendors and exhibits;
Ron Clark in Riverside Theatres Small
Miracles November 25 through 27
Continued From Page 25
$3-$8; for information and a daily schedule, call
563-324-3378, Davenport RiverCenter, 136 E.
3rd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.quadcityarts.
com/festoftrees.asp, Wed Nov 23 thru Sun Nov
27.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, the
church will provide the main dish, drinks, and
dessert; feel free, but not obligated, to bring a
dish to share; for information, call 309-786-2631
or e-mail broadway@broadwayqc.org, Broadway
Presbyterian Church, 710 23rd St., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.BroadwayQC.org, 1pm Thu Nov 24.
Complimentary Thanksgiving Dinner, the
Rescue Missions Chef, Kenny Anderson, will
serve the traditional menu of turkey, mashed
potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green
bean salad, corn casserole and rolls, salad, and
dessert; for information, call 309-786-5734 and
ask for Chef Kenny., Christian Care, 2209 3rd Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.ChristianCareQC.org,
12pm Thu Nov 24.
Johnnys Italian Steakhouse Thanksgiving
Buffet, $10-20, highchair age agree; for
information and to reserve, call 309-736-0100,
Johnnys Italian Steakhouse, 1300 River Dr,
Moline, IL, http://www.johnnysitaliansteakhouse.
com, 11am Thu Nov 24.
Thunder Bay Grille Thanksgiving Buffet,
$7.99-$15.99, ages 4 & under free; for information
and to reserve, call 563-386-2722, Thunder Bay
Grille, 6511 North Brady, Davenport, IA, 11am
Thu Nov 24.
Friday Martini Madness, a featured martini
for $6.95 and a choice appetizer for $6.95; today
- Tataki Tuna paired with a Pomegranate Tini; for
information and to reserve, call 309-762-4700,
Bass Street Chop House, 1601 River Dr, Moline,
IL, http://www.bschouse.com, Fri Nov 25.
Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce 3rd Annual Holiday Fiesta,
reserve by Nov. 25 for Dec. 1 event; music, food
from Restaurante El Mariachi, a cash bar, silent
auction items, and more; $10-25; for information
and to reserve, e-mail info@gqchcc.com, Quad
City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island,
IL, http://www.gqchcc.com, 5:30pm Fri Nov 25.
Christmas Craft Show, hundreds of hand-
crafted items available for purchase; $4, ages 12
& under free; for information, call 309-788-5912,
QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.qccaexpocenter.com, 10am Fri Nov
25 thru Sun Nov 27.
Trivia Night Fundraiser for the Pleasant
Valley Wrestling Club, $10/player, with as many
people on a team as you want; the winning
team will receive their entry fee back; with raffle
items, drink specials starting at 7pm, and more;
for information, contact Tammy Speidel at 563-
343-8608 or basketbyr@yahoo.com, Bier Stube
LeClaire, 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire, IA, 8pm
Tue Nov 29.
Specifically for Seniors: Holiday Party,
choirs, a soloist, skits, gift ideas, and holiday
refreshments will combine for a lively event; free;
for information, call 563-421-2198, Fairmount
Street Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.davenportlibrary.com, 1pm Wed
Nov 30.
December
Holiday Bus Trip: Peoria Festival of Lights,
reserve by Dec. 1 for Dec. 8 trip; featuring a
stop at the Jim Kightlingers Antique shop
(featuring over 3500 holiday ornaments),
an Italian buffet at Avantis Restaurant, and
a viewing of the Festival of Lights from the
comfort of the motorcoach; all proceeds help
support the educational programs and gardens
of the Quad City Botanical Center; $65-75; for
information, call 309-794-0991 ext. 30 or e-mail
vs@qcgardens.com, Quad City Botanical Center,
2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
qcgardens.com, 1:30pm Thu Dec 1.
Holiday Walk Atop College Hill, stroll the
antique & retail shops on College Hill for unique
holiday gifts, caroling, refreshments, luminaria,
and prize drawings, and bring the kids to see
Santa; free, 14th Avenue & 30th Street, Rock
Island, IL, 4pm Thu Dec 1.
The Project of the Quad Cities Ribbon-
Cutting & Dinner, a short annual meeting and
ceremony followed by dinner, with childrens
activities; for information, call 309-762-5433, The
Project of the Quad Cities, 2316 5th Ave, Moline,
IL, http://www.apqc4life.org, Thu Dec 1.
Chick-fil-A All Pro Dads Day, monthly
breakfast where fathers and their kids, grades
one and up, meet with other dads and kids
and discuss a wide range of family topics, and
are equipped with resources to strengthen
relationships; each participating family will
receive a free Chick-fil-A Breakfast entre; prize
giveaways; for information, call 563-355-
1742, Chick-fil-A at Davenport, 2945 E 53rd
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.allprodad.com/
dd/1860, 9am Sat Dec 3.
Holiday Shopping Trip to Chicago, ride
a deluxe charter bus to Michigan Avenue in
downtown Chicago; the, Rock Island County
Extension, 321 W 2nd Ave, Milan, IL, http://www.
extension.illinois.edu/rockisland, 7:30am Sat
Dec 3.
19th-Century Christmas, annual event
featuring holiday decorations; an appearance
by Santa and Mrs. Claus; performances by
the Moline Boys Choir, pianist/organist Selma
Johnson, harpist Caitlin Thom, the Slide
Trombone Quartet, and more; face-painting;
a caricature artist; an art show; make-and-take
craft; and more; free; for information, call 309-
743-2701, Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman
House, 1105 8th Street, Moline, IL, http://www.
butterworthcenter.com, 12pm Sun Dec 4.
All You Can Eat Breakfast, serving pancakes,
eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, biscuits & gravy,
pastries, coffee, juice, and milk; $6, Davenport
American Legion, 702 W. 35th St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.iowalegion26.org, 7am Sun Dec 4.
Feast of St. Ambrose Celebration Mass,
beautifully adorned for the holidays, the chapel
will be filled with music and prayer as the
university celebrates its patron saint; free; for
information, contact Rev. Charles Adam at 563-
333-6151, Christ the King Chapel, St. Ambrose
University Campus, Davenport, IA, http://www.
sau.edu, 6:30pm Sun Dec 4.
Rock Island Historical Society Christmas
Open House, featuring a special exhibit on the
impact of the American Civil War on, Rock Island
Historical Society, 822 11th Ave., Moline, IL, 1pm
Sun Dec 4.
Winter in Bloom, featuring holiday goodies,
horse-drawn carriage rides, and a visit from
Santa Claus; for information, call 309-732-2132,
Hauberg Civic Center Mansion, 1300 24th St.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.rigov.org, 12pm Sun
Dec 4.
Food for Fines, patrons may bring in canned
goods worth up to $5 in waived library fines,
with each can or box of food equal to $1; food
will be donated to the River Bend Food Pantry;
for information, call 309-524-2470, Moline
Public Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, IL, http://
www.molinelibrary.com, Mon Dec 5 thru Sun
Dec 11.
Champagne & Sparkling Wines for the
Holidays, tastings and food with Dmitri
Papageorgiou; $40; for information, call 309-
732-7275, Hauberg Civic Center Mansion, 1300
24th St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.rigov.org,
6:30pm Thu Dec 8.
Season of Light, a multimedia planetarium
show that uses the planetarium sky projector,
astronomical images, music, and narration
projected onto a 30-foot dome to tell the story
of how our holiday traditions are connected
to the sky; late-comers will not be admitted;
not recommended for ages 7 & under; free; for
information, e-mail kerirursch@augustana.edu
or call 309-794-7721, John Deere Planetarium -
Augustana College, 820 38th Street, Rock Island,
IL, http://helios.augustana.edu/astronomy, 2pm
Sat Dec 10 thru Fri Dec 16.
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1401 Kimberly Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722
363-339-7111 - www.uiu.edu/quadcities
Reionally accredited
Transler u to 78 collee credits
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the worship service; donations
encouraged; for information, contact
Reverend Rich Hendricks at 563-324-
8281 or e-mail richdhendricks@msn.
com, Clarion Hotel Davenport, 227
LeClaire St, Davenport, IA, http://www.
mccqc.com, 10:30am Sun Feb 19.
LeClaire Trivia Night, proceeds
benefit the LeClaire Little League;
6:30pm doors, 7pm trivia; bring snacks,
beer, wine, or soda, or purchase water
and snacks; door prizes; $10/person;
8 people/table; $50/table minimum;
for information and to reserve, call
563-505-6703 or e-mail chris@ccx.net,
LeClaire Civic Center, 127 S Cody Rd,
LeClaire, IA, 7pm Sat Feb 25.
43rd Annual OReilly Auto Parts Rod &
Custom Car Show, featuring the 27th Annual
Model Car Contest and the hottest street rods,
custom cars, motorcycles, street machines, race
cars, and pickups in the area competing for
trophies and cash prizes; Sat 11am, Sun 8am;
for information, call 319-465-5119, Monticello
Berndes Center, 766 N Maple St, Monticello, IA,
http://www.rodandcustomcarshow.com, Sat
Feb 25 and Sun Feb 26.
ONGOING
ComedySportz, on Fridays & Saturdays;
interactive comedy with the areas long-
running improv troupe; $10-$12; for tickets and
information, call 309-786-1111 or e-mail Info@
ComedySportzQC.com, The Establishment
Theatre, 220 19th St., Rock Island, IL, http://
www.EstablishmentTheatre.com, 7pm Fri Nov
25 thru Sat Feb 25.
Call for Comedians: The Establishment
Theatres Open Mic Night, seeking
applications for open-mic night on the last
Wed. of the month, with 12 performance slots
per show; for information, e-mail OpenMic@
EstablishmentTheatre.com or call 309-786-1111,
The Establishment Theatre, 220 19th St., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.EstablishmentTheatre.
com, Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Feb 29.
Standup Comedy Showcase, on Mondays;
also an open-mic night for singers; sign up at
iwannarock@iowacityyachtclub.org, Iowa City
Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA, http://
www.iowacityyachtclub.org, 9pm Mon Nov 28
thru Mon Dec 26.
November & December
Establishment Theatre First-Anniversary
Show, featuring an improv battle between
ComedySportz teams, stand-up comedy
with Chris Schlicting, the Guys In Ties touring
company, a short film, and more; $10-12; for
information and tickets, call 309-786-1111,
Establishment Theatre, 220 19th Street, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.establishmentTheatre.
com, 7pm Wed Nov 23.
Comedy XPeriment, standup with Des
Moines favorite improv troupe; $10; for tickets
and information, call 515-246-2300, Civic Center
of Greater Des Moines, 221 Walnut St., Des
Moines, IA, http://www.civiccenter.org, 7:30pm
Fri Nov 25 and Sat Nov 26.
Melissa Villasenor, standup comedy and
impressions with the season-six Americas
Got Talent contender; $17.50; for tickets and
information, call 309-786-7733 extension 2;
Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 Third Avenue, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com, 7:30pm Thu
Dec 1.
Comedy Xperiment Improv Workshop, all
ages and skill levels are welcome; no previous
improv experience necessary; $5, Des Moines
Social Club, 1408 Locust St., Des Moines, IA,
http://www.facebook.com/ComedyXPeriment,
6pm Thu Dec 1.
Davenport, IA, http://www.mccqc.com, 10:30am
Sun Jan 15.
Havana Daydreamin 2012, annual event
benefiting Hand in Hand; featuring music by
The Boat Drunks, the Whoozdads, John Patti,
Coral Reefer band members, and more; 6pm
doors, 8pm beach party; $20-$25, Davenport
RiverCenter, 136 E. 3rd St, Davenport, IA, 6pm
Sat Jan 21.
Havana Daydreamin2012 Pre-Party: Parrot
Head Crossroads, annual event benefiting
Hand in Hand, featuring performances by more
than 20 local musicians; $15-20, RME (River
Music Experience), 131 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA,
1pm Sat Jan 21.
Mad Hatter Tea Party for Adults, Karin
Youngberg will show the tea party scene from
various video versions of Alice in Wonderland
and talk about what both Lewis Carroll and the
video directors were thinking in their portrayals;
tea party food provided; free; for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 6:30pm Thu Jan 26.
Chinese New Year Celebration, sponsored
by the Quad-City Chinese Association, the
Quad City Chinese Christian Church, and the
SAU Center for International Education; free;
for information, contact Ryan Dye at 563-333-
6389 or DyeRyanD@sau.edu, Rogalski Center
- St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu, 3pm Sat
Jan 28.
LeClaire Trivia Night, proceeds benefit the
LeClaire Community Library; 6:30pm doors,
7pm trivia; bring snacks, beer, wine, or soda, or
purchase water and snacks; door prizes; $10/
person; 8 people/table; $50/table minimum; for
information and to reserve, call 563-505-6703 or
e-mail chris@ccx.net, LeClaire Civic Center, 127 S
Cody Rd, LeClaire, IA, 7pm Sat Jan 28.
Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, Fri & Sat
7pm, Sat 2pm; $10.50-$42; for tickets, call 800-
745-3000, Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson
Ave, Peoria, IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.
com, Fri Feb 3 and Sat Feb 4.
Gourmet Chocolate Tasting, taste exotic,
rich, and unusual types of chocolates in the pre-
Valentines, Davenport Public Library - Eastern
Ave. Branch, 6000 Eastern Ave., Davenport, IA,
http://www.davenportlibrary.com, 11am Sat
Feb 11.
Anti-Valentines Day Party, a hilarious
alternative to a traditional Valentines Day,
with unusual activities, music, and fun; free; for
Davenport, IA, http://www.davenportlibrary.
com, 6pm Mon Feb 13.
Senior Day, for information, call 563-
344-4175, Bettendorf Public Library, 2950
bettendorflibrary.com, 1:30pm Thu Feb 16.
Brown Bag Lunch Program, for information,
call 563-344-4175, Bettendorf Public Library,
2950 Learning Campus, Bettendorf, IA, http://
www.bettendorflibrary.com, noon Fri Feb 17.
Metropolitan Community Church of the
Quad Cities Handicap-Accessible Service,
with free doughnuts and coffee beginning at
10:30am, and a pizza buffet at 12 noon following
Seek and Soak, a night of worship and
praise led by worship teams from several local
churches, sponsored by the Quad Cities Prayer
Center; for information, call 563-323-3090, The
Center in Davenport, 1411 Brady St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.qcprayercenter.org, 6pm Sun
Dec 11.
Senior Day: Vintage Voices, event with the
performers of old-time radio scripts; free; for
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com, 1:30pm Thu
Dec 15.
Brown Bag Lunch Program, for information,
www.bettendorflibrary.com, 12pm Fri Dec 16.
the worship service; donations encouraged; for
information, contact Reverend Rich Hendricks
at 563-324-8281 or e-mail richdhendricks@msn.
com, Clarion Hotel Davenport, 227 LeClaire St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.mccqc.com, 10:30am
Sun Dec 18.
Senior Day, for information, call 563-
bettendorflibrary.com, 1:30pm Thu Dec 22.
Card/Games Luncheon, $6-$10; for
information, call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center
12pm Tue Dec 27.
January & February
Friends of the Rock Island Library Book
Sale, for information, call 309-732-7323, Rock
Island Public Library - 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th
St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.
org, 9am Thu Jan 5.
Wedding of a Lifetime Bridal Show 2012,
10am doors, style shows at 11am and 1pm;
$10; for tickets and information, call 309-673-
3200, Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave,
Peoria, IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com,
10am Sun Jan 8.
WeddingMax Bridal Show, shop for the
finest in weddings items and accessories; $6-8;
for information and tickets, call 309-764-2000, i
wireless Center, 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL, http://
www.iwirelesscenter.com, 11am Sun Jan 8.
St. Ambrose University Alumni Association
Trivia Night, 10 rounds of questions on various
subjects, 6-8 players per team; bring your own
snacks; drinks available for purchase; cash
prizes for top three winning teams; 6pm doors,
7pm trivia; $10/person; for information and to
register, contact Randi Rockwell at 563-333-6030
or e-mail RockwellRandiD@sau.edu, Rogalski
Center - St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu/alumni,
7pm Sat Jan 14.
Winter Wine Experience, for information,
call 563-326-1333, RME Community Stage,
131 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
FestivalsInAmana.com, Sat Jan 14.
Anime-ZAP!, vendors, presentations, and
more for all things anime; $15-25; for tickets
and information, call 309-673-3200, Peoria Civic
Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL, http://
www.animezapcon.com/registration, 10am Sat
Jan 14 and Sun Jan 15.
the worship service; donations encouraged; for
information, contact Reverend Rich Hendricks
at 563-324-8281 or e-mail richdhendricks@msn.
com, Clarion Hotel Davenport, 227 LeClaire St,
Shots & Giggles, a night of improv comedy;
extension 2, The Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd
Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com,
Sat Dec 3.
Guys in Ties, improv-comedy fundraising
performance with well-dressed performers
from ComedySportz; $10; for tickets and
information, call 309-762-0330, Playcrafters Barn
Theatre, 4950 35th Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.
playcrafters.com, 3pm Sun Dec 4.
A Passion for Murder, an interactive comedy-
mystery and dinner with the Its a Mystery troupe;
$35; for information and reservations, call 563-
359-1607, The Lodge Hotel, 900 Spruce Hills Dr.,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.itsamysteryqc.com,
6:30pm Fri Dec 9.
The Blacklist: 100 Laughs, local standup
comedians perform at 9pm, and the improv
troupe takes the stage at 10pm; $10; for tickets
and information, call 309-786-7733, extension
2, The Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.circa21.com, 9pm Sat Dec
10.
comedy-mystery and dinner with the Its a
Mystery troupe; $35; for information and
reservations, call 563-344-9187, Skellington
Manor Banquet & Event Center, 420 18th St,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.itsamysteryqc.com,
6:30pm Fri Dec 16.
Comedy Relief, family-friendly improv with
the Centers own team; free; for information,
call 563-468-1423, ALive! Childrens Theater at
The Center, 1411 Brady St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.aliveqca.com, 7pm Sat Dec 17.
Comic Open Mic, for inspiring comedians,
professionals who want to work on new
material, and those who enjoys telling jokes
to co-workers; $3; for information and tickets,
www.circa21.com, 8pm Sat Dec 17.
Open Mic Night, featuring an emcee and
12 local comedians; 7pm doors, 8pm show; $3
admission; full bar & menu; for information, e-
mail OpenMic@establishmenttheatre.com or
call 309-786-1111, The Establishment Theatre,
220 19th St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
EstablishmentTheatre.com, 8pm Wed Dec 28.
January & February
Sat Jan 7.
6:30pm Fri Jan 13.
The Blacklist: 100 Laughs, local standup
comedians perform at 9pm, and the improv
troupe takes the stage at 10pm; $10; for tickets
The Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island,
IL, http://www.circa21.com, 9pm Sat Jan 14.
www.circa21.com, 8pm Fri Jan 20.
EstablishmentTheatre.com, 8pm Wed Jan 25.
John Oliver, standup with the Emmy-winning
comedian and Senior British Correspondent on
Christmas with the Quad City Singers @ Lavender
Crest Winery, December 9 & 10
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; a Hancher
Auditorium presentation; $22-$40; for tickets and
information, call 319-335-1160, Iowa Memorial
Union Main Lounge - University of Iowa, 125 N.
Madison St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.hancher.
uiowa.edu, 7:30pm Sat Jan 28.
Pimprov, Chicagos famed improv show,
concerning four pimps who took comedy classes
at Second City on accident; 7 & 9:30pm; $12-15;
Sat Jan 28.
The Second City: Laugh Out Loud Tour,
sketch comedy and improvisation with the
famed touring comedians; $22-27; for tickets
and information, call 319-688-2653, Englert
http://www.englert.org, 8pm Fri Feb 3 and Sat
Feb 4.
Sat Feb 4.
The Capitol Steps: Election Year, musical
political satire in the famed touring presentation;
$25-30; for tickets and information, call 319-688-
2653, Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St.,
Iowa City, IA, http://www.englert.org, 8pm Fri
Feb 17.
6:30pm Fri Feb 17.
www.circa21.com, 8pm Fri Feb 17.
Professor Smarts Fun with Physics,
wacky science experiments with Quad City Arts
Visiting Artist Todd Victor, designed for grades
K-8; location TBD; for information, call 309-793-
1213, Quad City Arts Center, 1715 2nd Ave, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.quadcityarts.com, 4pm
Sat Feb 18.
EstablishmentTheatre.com, 8pm Wed Feb 29.
N0W PLAYlN0
Puss in Boots: An IMAX 3D Experience,
adventure with the furry Shrek character, in
IMAX 3D; $8-20; for information and a show
schedule, call 563-324-1054, Museum & IMAX
Theatre, 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA, http://
www.putnam.org, thru Sat Dec 31.
The Polar Express 3D, Robert Zemeckis 2004
holiday hit in IMAX 3D; $8-12.50; for tickets and
showtimes, call 563-324-1054, Putnam Museum
& IMAX Theatre, 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA,
http://www.putnam.org, thru Fri Jan 6.
Straight Up! - Helicopters in Action, aerial
documentary on the IMAX screen; $8-12.50;
for tickets and showtimes, call 563-324-1054,
Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre, 1717 W 12th
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.putnam.org, thru
Fri Jan 6.
Sharks 3D, IMAX nature documentary
presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau; $6.50-
$8.50; for information and a show schedule, call
563-324-1933, Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre,
1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA, http://www.
putnam.org, thru Sun Jan 8.
Events
Hancher Auditorium Presentations
November through February
I
n the Grateful Deads classic song Sugar
Magnolia, theres a verse that begins: Shes
got everything delightful, shes got everything
I need. And this winter, that sentiment
will most definitely be true ... at least if the
she youre referring to is the University of
Iowas Hancher
Auditorium,
and everything
you need is the
exceptional
variety of music,
comedy, and
drama found
in the venues
wintertime
Visiting Artists series. To be sure, Dead-heads
will be in for a major treat when the Riverside
Casino & Golf Resort hosts a December 9
evening with the American Beauty Project,
the Grateful Dead tribute band that will
re-imagine tracks from American Beauty and
Workingmans Dead alongside the lauded folk
group Ollabelle and jazz singer Catherine
Russell. On December 8, Russell will also
perform a Hancher-sponsored solo concert
at the Iowa City venue The Mill, while
February 10 brings with it an Englert Theatre
engagement featuring the Grammy-winning
stylings of pianist Chucho Valds and his
Afro-Cuban Messengers. Delivering what the
New York Times calls a genre-defying rock-
pop-funk-punk cabaret, Tony Award-winner
Stew, of Broadways revolutionary musical
Passing Strange, will bring his signature blend
of biting social satire and infectious rhythms
to the Englert in February 2s Stew & the
Negro Problem. Hanchers holiday season,
meanwhile, will begin less with a bang than a
pop or rather, the Pops, as the Boston Pops
Esplanade Orchestra joins voices with the a
cappella wizards of Rockapella for November
27s 2011 Holiday Pops Tour at the U of
Is Carver-Hawkeye Arena. As for laughs,
Hancher will deliver them probably a lot
of them in January 28s Iowa Memorial
Union evening with John Oliver, the Emmy-
winning comedian adored for his appearances
on TVs Community and as senior British
correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart. And wrapping up Hanchers winter
season, the acclaimed ensemble L.A. Theatre
Works will, on February 23, stage an Englert
Theatre production of Norman Corwins The
Rivalry, which employs historical transcripts
to re-create the legendary 1858 Illinois Senate
campaign debates between Stephen Douglas
and Abraham Lincoln. Ah, 1858 ... long before
our political debates boasted the passion,
oratorical skill, and ideological nuance that
they do now. (That ones for you, Todd.) For
more information and tickets to all shows in
the Hancher Auditorium winter season, call
(319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.
UIowa.edu. Mike Schulz
Rockapella
Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern, on
Saturdays and Sundays1995 documentary by
filmmakers, Herbert Hoover National Historic
Site, off I-80 at exit 254, West Branch, IA, http://
www.nps.gov/heho, 1pm thru Sun Feb 26.
November & December
The Muppet Movie, screening of the
Muppets 1979 feature-film debut; free; for
221 East Washington St., Iowa City, IA, http://
www.englert.org, 1pm Sat Nov 26.
Father Goose, a screening of the film
classic in memory of Cary Grant, who died
in Davenport on this date 25 years ago;
refreshments served; free; for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 6:30pm Tue Nov 29.
Manito, a screening in the Independent
Movie Night series; story of two brothers set
against the volatile backdrop of a changing
inner city; free movie, popcorn, and discussion;
for information, call 309-732-7323, Rock Island
Public Library - Main Library, 401 19th, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm
Thu Dec 1.
Rodelinda, a presentation in the 2011-12
Metropolitan Opera Live series; $16-24; for
information, call 563-441-0242, Rave Motion
Pictures Davenport 53, 3601 E. 53rd St.,
Davenport, IA, 11:30am Sat Dec 3.
Night at the Museum, screening of the
comedy hit in the Movies@MNH series; free;
for information, call 319-335-0606, MacBride
Auditorium, MacBride Hall, UI Campus, Iowa
City, IA, http://www.uiowa.edu/mnh, 2pm Sun
Dec 4.
3rd Annual CHM Holiday Movie and Gift
Swap, event featuring the short film The Story
of Broke, a visit with the sisters, a gift swap and
window shop, and more; free; for information,
call 563-336-8404, Humility of Mary Center, 820
W. Central Park Avenue, Davenport, IA, http://
www.chmiowa.org, 6pm Tue Dec 6.
Oscar in the Afternoon, a screening of
a G-, PG-, or PG-13-rated Academy Award
winner; free; for information, call 563-326-7832,
The Polar Express, a screening in Junior
Theatres monthly family-film series; $2.50
in advance & $4 at the door includes two
slices of pizza and lemonade; popcorn
available for $1/bag; for information, call 563-
888-2227, Davenport Junior Theatre, 2822
Eastern Ave., Davenport, IA, http://www.
DavenportJuniorTheatre.org, 6:15pm Fri Dec 9.
Faust, a presentation in the 2011-12
Davenport, IA, 11:55am Sat Dec 10.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the
classic 1971 family film based on the Roald Dahl
book; $3 at the door; for information, call 319-
688-2653, Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington
St., Iowa City, IA, http://www.englert.org,
11:59pm Sat Dec 10.
Hunting Down Memory (Jakten p
hukommelsen), 2009 Thomas Lien documentary
about a Norwegian who lost his memory while
on a train in China; free; for information, e-mail
info@rozztox.com, Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.rozztox.com, 6pm Sun
Dec 11.
CASI Movie Matinee, $2-$4; for information,
call 563-386-7477, CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA,
http://www.casiseniors.org, 1pm Tue Dec 13.
Off Beat Independent Film Screening, watch
an award-winning film with other movie lovers;
563-344-4106, Family Museum, 2900 Learning
Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
familymuseum.org, 1pm Sun Dec 4.
ONGOING
Drop-In Baseball, on Wednesdays; $6; for
information, call 563-322-5220, Rivers Edge,
700 W. River Dr., Davenport, IA, http://www.
cityofdavenportiowa.com, 6am Wed Nov 23
thru Wed Dec 28.
Public Ice Skating, Wednesdays & Fridays
11am, Saturdays 4:45pm; $5 admission, $2 skate
rental; for information, call 563-322-5220, Rivers
Edge, 700 W. River Dr., Davenport, IA, http://
www.cityofdavenportiowa.com, 11am Wed Nov
23 thru Sat Dec 31.
Drop-In Public Hockey, on Tuesdays &
Thursdays; $10; for information, call 563-322-
5220, Rivers Edge, 700 W. River Dr., Davenport,
IA, http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com, 11am
Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Drop-In Public Soccer, on Tuesdays &
Thursdays thru Saturdays; $10; for information,
call 563-322-5220, Rivers Edge, 700 W. River Dr.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.
com, 6am Thu Nov 24 thru Fri Dec 30.
November & December
Quad City Mallards, vs. Fort Wayne; $9-20; for
tickets, call 800-745-3000, i wireless Center, 1201
River Dr, Moline, IL, http://www.iwirelesscenter.
com, 7:05pm Fri Nov 25.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Missouri; $9-20; for
com, 7:05pm Sat Nov 26.
Augustana College vs Marquette
University, ice-hockey match, Rivers Edge,
augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 7:45pm Fri Dec 2.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Milwaukee
Admirals; $12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-
7pm Sat Dec 3.
Augustana College vs Marquette
augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 4:30pm Sat Dec 3.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Rockford Icehogs;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 5pm Sun
Dec 4.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Rapid City; $9-20; for
com, 7:05pm Tue Dec 6.
com, 7:05pm Fri Dec 9.
com, 7:05pm Sat Dec 17.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Toronto Marlies;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Sat
Dec 17.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Bloomington; $9-
20; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, i wireless
Center, 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL, http://www.
iwirelesscenter.com, 7:05pm Tue Dec 20.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Wichita; $9-20; for
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Chicago Wolves;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
discussion afterward; title to be announced;
free movie and popcorn; for information, call
563-326-7832, Fairmount Street Library, 3000
davenportlibrary.com, 6pm Thu Dec 15.
I Am Number Four, free movie and popcorn
for ages 12-18; an event in the Teen Screen
series; for information, call 309-732-7323, Rock
Island Public Library - Main Library, 401 19th,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.
org, 4:30pm Tue Dec 27.
January & February
davenportlibrary.com, 2pm Wed Jan 4.
Light of My Eyes, a screening in the
Independent Movie Night series; free movie,
popcorn, and discussion; for information, call
309-732-7323, Rock Island Public Library - Main
rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Thu Jan 5.
Free Willy, a screening in Junior Theatres
monthly family-film series; $2.50 in advance
& $4 at the door includes two slices of pizza
and lemonade; popcorn available for $1/bag;
Junior Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport,
IA, http://www.DavenportJuniorTheatre.org/
mainstage/specialevents.html, 6:15pm Fri Jan
13.
Mulan, a screening of the animated Disney
hit in the Friday Movie Fest series; free; for
information, call 309-732-7323, Rock Island
Fri Jan 13.
The Enchanted Island, a presentation in the
2011-12 Metropolitan Opera Live series; $16-
24; for information, call 563-441-0242, Rave
Motion Pictures Davenport 53, 3601 E. 53rd St.,
Davenport, IA, 11:55am Sat Jan 21.
The White Rose, screening sponsored by
the German American Heritage Center; $5;
for information, call 563-322-8844, Figge Art
Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA, http://
www.gahc.org, 4pm Sun Jan 22.
davenportlibrary.com, 2pm Wed Feb 1.
Wolves in the Snow, a screening in the
Independent Movie Night Series; free movie,
popcorn, and discussion; for information, call
rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Thu Feb 2.
The Last Days of Sophie Scholl, screening
sponsored by the German American Heritage
Center; $5; for information, call 563-322-8844,
http://www.gahc.org, 4pm Sun Feb 5.
Majestic Montana, a screening in the World
Adventure Series, presented by Steve Gonser;
showtimes at 1, 4, & 7pm; $4-$6; for information
and tickets, call 563-324-1933, Putnam Museum
& IMAX Theatre, 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA,
http://www.putnam.org, Tue Feb 7.
Madagascar, a screening in Junior Theatres
monthly family-film series; $2.50 in advance
& $4 at the door includes two slices of pizza
and lemonade; popcorn available for $1/bag;
Junior Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport,
IA, http://www.DavenportJuniorTheatre.org,
6:15pm Fri Feb 10.
Gotterdammerung, a presentation in the
2011-12 Metropolitan Opera Live series; $16-
24; for information, call 563-441-0242, Rave
Motion Pictures Davenport 53, 3601 E. 53rd St.,
Davenport, IA, 11am Sat Feb 11.
Kung Fu Panda, a screening of the animated
hit in the Friday Movie Fest series; free; for
information, call 309-732-7323, Rock Island
Fri Feb 17.
Ernani, a presentation in the 2011-12
Davenport, IA, 11:55am Sat Feb 25.
QCAD Film Festival, screenings sponsored by
Quad Citians Affirming Diversity; for information,
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 1pm Sun Feb 26.
Life and Death on the Prairie, photography
exhibit by Stephen Longmire, which focuses on Cedar
Countys Rochester Cemetery, and features 38 photos
taken from Longmires Life and Death on the Prairie
book, University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum, 21 Old
Capitol Museum, Iowa City, IA, http://www.uiowa.edu/
oldcap, Wed Nov 23 thru Sat Dec 10.
AGCO: The Evolution of a Company,
exhibit featuring detailed miniatures of
the historical brands that, National Farm
Toy Museum, Dyersville, IA, http://www.
nationalfarmtoymuseum.com, Wed Nov 23
thru Sat Dec 31.
Mi Casa Nueva: QC Mexican Heritage
Exhibit, exhibit examines the history of the
first Mexican immigrants shortly after 1900 and
continue through those who are coming to the
Quad Cities today; featured in the exhibit will be
images and artifacts relating to the first barrios,
people, events, music, dancing, schools, and
businesses; for information, call 563-324-1933,
Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre, 1717 W 12th
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.putnam.org, Wed
Nov 23 thru Sat Dec 31.
The German Immigrant Experience, 4,000
square feet of state-of-the-art interactive
exhibits including a new trivia video game, wired
antique party line phones, period clothing that
can be tried on, and the audio-visual experience
Step into my Shoes; free with $3-$5 museum
admission, for information, call 563-322-8844,
German American Heritage Center, 712 W. 2nd
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.gahc.org, Wed
Nov 23 thru Wed Feb 29.
The Spark! Learning Lab, lab utilizing
technology as the focus of the space to engage
visitors and encourage career exploration
in the area of Allied Healthcare; contains
SMARTboards, touchscreen computers, QR
codes, and discovery microscopes as well as
authentic medical equipment; touch, try and
experience materials and equipment, and
discover many opportunities available in allied
healthcare fields; free with museum admission;
for information, call 563-324-1933, Putnam
Museum & IMAX Theatre, 1717 W 12th St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.putnam.org, Wed
WinterFest Exhibition, exhibit features
the animated holiday-figure figurines from
the former downtown Davenport Von Maur
Department Store first displayed in the late
1960s; also with a model train occupying the
front windows of the museum; Mon.-Sat. 9am-
5pm, Thu. 9am-8pm, Sun. noon-5pm; free with
$4-7 museum admission; for information, call
563-344-4106, Family Museum, 2900 Learning
Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
familymuseum.org, Thu Nov 24 thru Sun Jan
1.
Winterfest Celebration, featuring music
from the Pleasant Valley High School Tuba and
Euphonium Ensemble, dancing by the Family
Museum LimeLight Dancers, refreshments,
activities, and a visit from Santa later in the
afternoon; admission free with the donation of
a non-perishable food item; for information, call
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Mon
Dec 26.
com, 7:05pm Tue Dec 27.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Dayton; $9-20; for
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Rockford IceHogs;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
Dec 31.
January
Quad City Mallards, vs. Wichita; $9-20; for
com, 7:05pm Fri Jan 6.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Chicago Wolves;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Fri
Jan 6.
Augustana College vs Northwestern
augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 7:45pm Fri Jan 6.
The Harlem Globetrotters, basketball and
comedy with the world-famous team; $37-94; for
com, 7pm Sat Jan 7.
Augustana College vs Northwestern
augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 4:30pm Sat Jan 7.
com, 4:05pm Sun Jan 8.
5pm Sun Jan 8.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Lake Erie Monsters;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Thu
Jan 12.
Augustana College vs Robert Morris
University - Springfield, ice-hockey match,
Rivers Edge, 700 W. River Dr., Davenport, IA,
http://www.augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 7:45pm
Fri Jan 13.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Houston Aeros;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
IL, http://www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Fri
Jan 13.
com, 7:05pm Fri Jan 13.
Augustana College vs Robert Morris
University - Springfield, ice-hockey match,
Rivers Edge, 700 W. River Dr., Davenport, IA,
http://www.augustana.edu/x34895.xml, 4:30pm
Sat Jan 14.
com, 7:05pm Sat Jan 14.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Houston Aeros;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
Jan 14.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Evansville; $9-20; for
com, 7:05pm Tue Jan 17.
7
he titles of the first two Masterworks
concerts in the Quad City Symphony
Orchestras season indicate a distinct shift
from the pure music of Beethoven 5 (named for
the showcase piece) to the literary-themed Poems
on Fate.
Concert planners were obviously aiming
to demonstrate the symbiotic relationship
between language and music in the November
concerts. But somewhere between the idea
for Poems on Fate and the selection of its
music, the conceptual glue lost its cohesion.
The audiences perfunctory response at the
Adler Theatre on
November 5 was in
stark relief to the
profuse applause and
standing ovation that
greeted Beethoven
5s first performance,
and it was clear that
something had gone
wrong.
All four pieces
in the Poems on
Fate program
clearly fit the
theme. Johannes
Brahms Song of Destiny used text from a poem,
Giuseppe Verdis opera La Forza del Destino a
libretto, and Richard Strauss Death &
Transfiguration and Franz Liszts Les
Preludes inspired poems that were included as
prefaces in their published scores.
The challenge for program planners was to
maintain the integrity of the musical experience
while coherently demonstrating its connection
to literature. (It would have helped if the prefaces
had been included in the printed program,
to provide a fuller literary context for the
audience but also to demonstrate the florid style
characteristic of the period when the music was
composed.) And while the literary connections
worked, the music, as a program, didnt.
The biggest problem with the music was
ironically the very reason it was chosen because
of its literary connection to the theme rather
than its intrinsic musical elements or unique
contribution to a specific place in the performing
sequence. Program order didnt seem to matter
because, at the end of the Verdi overture, Music
Director and Conductor Mark Russell Smith
announced that the Brahms choral work had
been shifted from the first half of the concert to
the second for logistical reasons. If the pieces
were interchangeable, their positions in the
program appeared arbitrary.
But there were other reasons the program
was problematic. Concerts are musical events
first and foremost. They should have their
own musical dramatic flow or gestalt moving
toward a conclusion. But all four pieces here
were written between 1856 and 1889 within
the same musical style period and they share
compositional characteristics, homophonic
texture, and orchestration on basically the
same instruments. Its like eating strip steak for
an appetizer, prime rib for an entre, and filet
mignon for dessert ample quality cuts of beef,
but a tiresome and unbalanced meal. And three
of the four musical poems were in the same key
(C), resulting in fatigue instead of active listening.
Despite these issues with the theme and
selection of repertoire, the orchestra performed
with lyricism and
excitement. Under
the baton of
Smith, the highlight
of the concert was
a vivid musical
portrayal of an
idealistic artists
death experience in
Strauss symphonic
tone poem. It was
remarkable because
of the gravitas of the
subject matter, the
parallel dramatic
flow of both the story and music, and Strauss
extraordinary orchestration. Huge extremes in
dynamics and instrumental sound colors gave
a picturesque view of the death-bed scene in
the music the soft heartbeat in the timpani,
the wrenching life struggle in the attack of
the trombones, the moment of death in the low
gong, and the upper strings chromatic ascending
scales in the transfiguration. The string section,
relocated from the October concert, was forceful
in the life struggle section and then tender in
the flashbacks of childhood portion.
Throughout, the orchestras response to
Smiths clear stick and enthusiasm produced a
performance of passion and power, a musical
version of an IMAX experience.
It wasnt without a few blemishes. Extremely
difficult to play, the piece tests the limits of
instrument potential and player skill. Strauss
music is texturally dense to begin with, and when
the tempo was pushed, the strings musical lines
became incomprehensible.
In the life struggle section, the severe attack
from the tuba was electrifying at the beginning
but too edgy to blend with the brass entrances
that came later. The horns struggled for control of
soft passages near the beginning and again later at
the start of the transfiguration.
Soft dynamics proved to be a challenge for
the woodwind section as well. Augmented with
bass clarinet and contrabassoon, the sections
precarious soft playing threatened their pitch
stability making intonation, which is normally
MUSIC
Literary Theme Causes Musical Problems
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra, November 5 at the Adler Theatre
by Frederick Morden
f.morden@mchsi.com
not a big problem, a distraction and exacerbating
balance problems.
The program opened with Verdis overture
to La Forza del Destino, a brief pastiche of motifs
and melodies from the opera. The principal
woodwinds specifically the flute, oboe, and
clarinet demonstrated how the fusing of timbre
with precise intonation can create a new
instrumental sound in the slow, plaintive Aria.
But balance problems appeared in the uneven
volume between the brass instruments. And
tempo changes were again a nemesis for the
strings when they occurred with spicatto passages.
The 100-plus voices of the Quad City Choral
Arts ensemble, prepared by founder and director
Jon Hurdy, joined the orchestra for a performance
of Brahms Song of Destiny. The chorus sang from
the traditional location behind the orchestra,
which proved to be a disadvantage. To their
credit, Smith and the instrumentalists made an
effort to let the voices project over the orchestra,
revealing a balanced, mature vocal sound from
the mixed choir.
The upper strings nailed the arpeggios in
the chorale part at the beginning and end of
Liszts Les Preludes and provided sumptuousness
to the smooth, arching melodic phrases
throughout the section. The famous horn
quartet was even and effortless, a contrast to
the hazardous staccato solos that dotted the
performance.
The strings did a heroic job trying to hold
things together, but near the end, the pell-mell
tempo went over the edge, making the compound
rhythmic structures ragged.
It should be noted that the orchestra was
moved downstage to allow room for the chorus.
This brought the orchestra out from behind the
proscenium arch and into the same space as
the audience, creating a huge improvement in
the overall sound of the ensemble. In this new
location, the power of the Quad City Symphony
and its music shimmered with sparkling
overtones and musical colors of limitless hues,
most notably in Strauss from the hushed
breathing of the dying artist to the sublime
climatic moment of the transfiguration. Any
problems the orchestra had can be overcome
because of its depth of skill and the variety of
programming in the series.
The Quad City Symphonys next Masterworks
concert, Concerti for Celli, will feature Anthony
Ross and Beth Rapier Ross and be performed
December 3 and 4. For more information, visit
QCSymphony.com.
Frederick Morden is a retired orchestra-music
director, conductor, composer, arranger, educator,
and writer who has served on the executive board
of the Conductors Guild.
Its like eating strip steak
for an appetizer, prime
rib for an entre, and
filet mignon for dessert
ample quality cuts of
beef, but a tiresome and
unbalanced meal.
The Harlem Globetrotters, basketball and
comedy with the world-famous team; $19-
79; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, Peoria Civic
Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL, http://
www.peoriaciviccenter.com, 7pm Wed Jan 18.
com, 4:05pm Sun Jan 22.
10am Tue Jan 24.
Augustana College vs Wheaton College,
ice-hockey match, Rivers Edge, 700 W. River
Dr., Davenport, IA, http://www.augustana.edu/
x34895.xml, 7:45pm Fri Jan 27.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Grand Rapids
Griffins; $12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-
7pm Fri Jan 27.
Augustana College vs Wheaton College,
ice-hockey match, Rivers Edge, 700 W. River
Dr., Davenport, IA, http://www.augustana.edu/
x34895.xml, 4:30pm Sat Jan 28.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Grand Rapids
Griffins; $12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-
7pm Sat Jan 28.
February
com, 7:05pm Fri Feb 3.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Bloomington; $9-
20; for tickets, call 800-745-3000, i wireless
Center, 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL, http://www.
iwirelesscenter.com, 7:05pm Sat Feb 4.
com, 7:05pm Tue Feb 7.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Lake Erie Monsters;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave,
7pm Fri Feb 10.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Charlotte Checkers;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
7pm Sat Feb 11.
Quad City Mallards, vs. Arizona; $9-20; for
com, 7:05pm Sat Feb 11.
com, 4:05pm Sun Feb 12.
com, 7:05pm Tue Feb 14.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Charlotte Checkers;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
7pm Fri Feb 17.
com, 7:05pm Sat Feb 18.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Abbotsford Heat;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
7pm Tue Feb 21.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the San Antonio
Rampage; $12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-
7pm Fri Feb 24.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the San Antonio
Rampage; $12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-
7:30pm Sat Feb 25.
Peoria Rivermen, vs. the Abbotsford Heat;
$12.50-27.50; for tickets, call 800-745-3000,
5pm Sun Feb 26.
com, 10:05am Tue Feb 28.
November
Lunch Bunch: Oh My Leftovers, learn a new
recipe, enjoy a balanced meal, and take home a
booklet of recipes; $15; for information, call 309-
732-7275, Hauberg Civic Center Mansion, 1300
24th St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.rigov.org,
12pm Wed Nov 23.
Computer Tutor at Eastern, on the 2nd Wed.
of the month; bring your computer questions to
and a staff person will provide one-on-one help;
learn about Internet searching, e-mailing, library
databases, the library catalog, and Microsoft
Word; free; for information, call 563-326-7832,
davenportlibrary.com, 7pm Wed Nov 23.
Bird House Workshop, reserve by Nov. 28
for Dec. 4 course; materials and information
provided; Wren- $5, Bluebird- $7, Kestrel-
$16; pre-registration and payment required;
for information, call 563-652-3783, Hurstville
Interpretive Center, 18670 63th St., Maquoketa,
IA, http://www.jacksonccb.com, 1pm Mon Nov
28.
Using the Rock Island Libraries New
Catalogs, free; for information, call 309-732-
7323, Rock Island Public Library - Southwest
Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Rd., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Mon
Nov 28.
Fumigation CIC, $35 if registered by
11/22/11, $45 afterward; for information, call
563-359-7577, Scott County Extension, 875
Tanglefoot Lane, Suite B, Bettendorf, IA, http://
dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar, 9am Tue
Nov 29.
Get Cooking with Rachel: Pies & Tarts,
enjoy the fruits of your labor in class, and take
home recipes; $24; for information, call 309-732-
7275, Hauberg Civic Center Mansion, 1300 24th
St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.rigov.org, 6pm
Tue Nov 29.
Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop, create a
wreath using live and dried plant materials and
evergreen boughs from the greenhouse; bring
gloves and pruning shears; $20; for information,
call 309-732-7275, Longview Park Greenhouse,
17th St & 18th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
rigov.org, 6pm Tue Nov 29.
Project Leadership and Ethics, thru Dec.
1; discuss the difference between leading and
managing in the project environment; the
concept of transformational leadership will
be introduced and employed through class
exercises as a project-ready method for leading
in the project environment; $995; for information
and to register, contact Jennifer Prinz at 563-
441-9950 or pd@sau.edu, St. Ambrose University
College for Professional Studies, 1950 E 54th St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu/pdc, 8:30am
Tue Nov 29.
Catalogs, free; for information, call 309-
rockislandlibrary.org, 2:30pm Wed Nov 30.
Lobby Lessons at the Library, learn about
the E-book services the Moline Public Library
offers for card holders; free; for information, call
12pm Wed Nov 30.
December
Holiday Garland-Making Workshop, create
a garland using live and dried plant materials
and evergreen boughs from the greenhouse;
bring gloves and pruning shears; $20; for
information, call 309-732-7275, Longview Park
Greenhouse, 17th St & 18th Ave., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rigov.org, 6pm Thu Dec 1.
St. Ambrose ACCEL Degree Completion
Program, for adult learners desiring to
complete their bachelor degree in a flexible
evening and weekend format; the session will
offer participants an overview of the programs
unique, discussion-driven learning environment,
and the opportunity to ask questions of program
staff; free; for information, call 563-441-9500 or
e-mail accel@sau.edu, St. Ambrose University
College for Professional Studies, 1950 E 54th
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu/accel,
5:30pm Thu Dec 1.
Lobby Lessons at the Library, learn about
the E-book services the Moline Public Library
offers for card holders; free; for information, call
12pm Thu Dec 1.
Pesticide Applicator Testing, for information,
call 563-359-7577, Scott County Extension, 875
dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar, 10am Fri
Dec 2.
Catalogs, free; for information, call 309-732-
7323, Rock Island Public Library - Southwest
Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Rd., Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Wed
Dec 7.
Pest Control Operators CIC, $35 if registered
by 11/30/11, $45 afterward; for information, call
563-359-7577, Scott County Extension, 875
dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar, 9am Wed
Dec 7.
Project Management: Planning, Execution,
and Control, thru Dec. 9; an extensive overview
of professional project management, including
a project-ready tool kit for initiating, planning,
executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing
out projects within a practical system; $995; for
information and to register, contact Jennifer
Prinz at 563-441-9950 or pd@sau.edu, St.
Ambrose University College for Professional
Studies, 1950 E 54th St, Davenport, IA, http://
www.sau.edu/pdc, 8:30am Dec 7.
ACCEL Program Information Webinar,
for adult learners desiring to complete their
bachelor degree in a flexible evening and
weekend format; the webinar will offer
participants an overview of the programs
unique, discussion-driven learning environment,
and the opportunity to ask questions of program
staff; free; for information, call 563-441-9500 or
Rascal Flatts @ Peoria Civic Center
January 20
e-mail accel@sau.edu, St. Ambrose University,
518 W. Locust, Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.
edu/accel, 12pm Thu Dec 8.
Computer Tutor at Fairmount, on the
2nd Thu. of the month; bring your computer
questions to and a staff person will provide one-
on-one help; learn about Internet searching, e-
mailing, library databases, the library catalog,
and Microsoft Word; free; for information, call
Downloading eBooks & Audio with
OverDrive, learn how to download free eBooks
and audiobooks onto your portable reading
or audio device with the librarys Overdrive
digital books subscription; bring your Rock
Island Library card, device, owners manual and
a laptop, if you have one; for in formation, call
rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Thu Dec 8.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Seminar,
hosted by the University of Illinois Extension and
the Illinois Department of Agriculture; topics
include: EAB look-a-likes, Ash tree identification,
Ash tree and wood disposal and M2UTiHLizR
(Municipal Managers Urban Timber Harvesting
for Hardwood Lumber Utilization and Recovery),
recommended tree replacements, and wood
movement quarantine and restrictions; for
information, call 309-756-9978, WiFi Community
Center, 405 N. Galena Ave., Wyoming, IL, http://
www.IllinoisEAB.com, 10am Thu Dec 8.
Holiday Plant Care and Decorating Safety
Class, taught by U of I Extension horticulture
educator Martha Smith; learn how to take care
of your poinsettia, amaryllis, holiday cactus, and
fresh-cut arrangements; safety and decorating
tips like these will also be shared; $17-20; for
information or to register, call 309-756-9978,
College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 501-S
College Ave., Aledo, IL, http://web.extension.
illinois.edu/hmrs, 1pm Tue Dec 13.
Woven Stool, the seat will be woven using
100% cotton webbing, with several color choices
available; $40; for information, call 309-732-
7275, Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center,
4303 24th St., Rock Island, IL, http://www.rigov.
org, 5:30pm Tue Dec 13.
Catalogs, free; for information, call 309-
rockislandlibrary.org, 3pm Tue Dec 13.
Geneseo Community Center, 541 E. North St.,
Geneseo, IL, http://web.extension.illinois.edu/
hmrs, 1pm Wed Dec 14.
St. Ambrose ACCEL Degree-Completion
Program, adult learners desiring to complete
their bachelor degree in a flexible evening and
weekend format are invited to learn more about
the St. Ambrose University ACCEL program;
the session will offer participants an overview
of the programs unique, discussion-driven
learning environment, and the opportunity
to ask questions of program staff; free; for
information or to register, call 563-441-9500 or
e-mail accel@sau.edu, St. Ambrose University
Professional Development Center, 1950 E. 54th
St., Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu/accel,
Theatre
Comedies and Dramas
December through February
P
rior to Davenport
Junior Theatres
February 18 debut of Mia
the Melodramatic an
adaptation of the childrens
book written by Eileen
Boggess, whos a former
Junior Theatre kid herself the organizations
students will participate in the December 11
holiday production All I Really Need to Know
I Learned in a Bad Play. I think I speak for all
theatre folk when I respond to that title with four
words: Aint it the truth! Im predicting, though,
that audiences will also be getting a lot from
really good plays this season, at least based on
our areas promising lineup of winter comedies
and dramas. The interactive-whodunit group Its
a Mystery, for example, will find its comedians
offering two dinner-and-a-murder outings, with
Bettendorf s Lodge Hotel housing A Passion
for Murder (December 9), and Skellingtons Last
Resort (December 16, January 13, and February
17) being staged fittingly enough at Rock
Islands Skellington Manor. More laughs will come
courtesy of the District Theatres show-biz comedy
Scenery (opening February 9) and the Prenzie
Players Molire farce Tartuffe (opening December
2), while St. Ambrose University premieres a new
comedy with The Plagiarists (February 24 through
26). Humor mixed with sentiment will be on hand
in the Ohnward Fine Arts Centers On Golden
Pond (February 10 through 12), while a little bit
of everything will likely be found in New Ground
Theatres trio of debuting one-acts, staged under
the blanket title Bad Habits (opening January 19).
Theatre Cedar Rapids goes Wilde and no, thats
not a misspelling with the Oscar Wilde comedy
The Importance of Being Earnest (opening January
27) and the Wilde biography Gross Indecency: The
Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (opening February
10), with Anamosas Starlighters Theatre offering
a stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcotts beloved
Little Women (opening December 2). Another
literary classic gets a theatrical treatment when
the Playcrafters Barn Theatre presents the Anne
of Green Gables sequel Anne of Avonlea (opening
January 13), and classics dont get more classical
than Hamlet, which the University of Iowa
opens on December 1, followed by the schools
production of Sarah Ruhls Victorian comedy In
the Next Room: Or, the Vibrator Play (opening
February 10). A recent drama is offered in Iowa
Citys Dreamwell Theatre staging of Sans Merci
(opening February 10), while a Tony-winning
smash arrives locally in the Curtainbox Theatre
Companys Equus (opening February 16). Finally,
beginning January 27, Augustana College will
take on Paula Vogels Pulitzer Prize-winning
How I Learned to Drive. And if you think one of
its actors appears a little ... well ... older than his
co-stars, know that the guys there as a guest of the
school, and its been 22 years since he was last on
the Augie stage, and he only looks old because hes
probably exhausted from working at the Reader
full-time, and ... ! Never mind. Mike Schulz
5:30pm Wed Dec 14.
Computer Tutor at Fairmount, on the
3rd Thu. of the month; bring your computer
questions to and a staff person will provide one-
on-one help; learn about Internet searching, e-
mailing, library databases, the library catalog,
and Microsoft Word; free; for information, call
GIS/GEOSPATIAL, a tele-institute course;
participants will learn how GIS mapping software
can be utilized to increase the efficiency of
government operations, and hear about how GIS
is being implemented in support of statewide
broadband mapping, outreach, and adoption
efforts; for information and to register, call 309-
756-9978, Rock Island County Extension, 321 W
2nd Ave, Milan, IL, http://web.extension.illinois.
edu/hmrs, 3pm Thu Dec 15.
University of Illinois Extension, 4450 Kennedy
Drive Suite 3, East Moline, IL, http://web.
extension.illinois.edu/hmrs, 1pm Fri Dec 16.
A Natural Holiday, learn to make recyclable
wrapping paper and gift bags using fabric as
a reusable wrapper; all materials provided;
for information, call 563-652-3783, Hurstville
Interpretive Center, 18670 63th St., Maquoketa,
IA, http://www.jacksonccb.com, 2pm Sun Dec
18.
January & February
Resume Help with Christine Caves, the
Outreach Coordinator from Ashford University
is available for one-hour appointments to help
you polish your resume; bring your resume or a
chronological list of employers, complete with
dates and job titles, and Ms. Caves will help you
craft a resume designed to show you in your best
light; please bring a flash drive as well, so you
can save your resume and easily update it; for
information and to schedule an appointment,
www.bettendorflibrary.com, 9am Mon Jan 9
thru Tue Jan 10.
3-Day Leadership Through People Skills
Training, an intensive, three-day learning
experience that transforms managers into
leaders by creating the skills necessary to meet
todays business challenges and turn vision into
reality; offered as a non- or for-credit course;
$1,295; for information or to register, call 563-
441-9500 or e-mail pd@sau.edu, St. Ambrose
University Professional Development Center,
1950 E. 54th St., Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.
edu/pdc, 8am Mon Jan 9.
Pr i vat i zat i on/ I nt er gover nment al
Agreements, a tele-institute course presented
by the University of Illinois Extension Local
Government Information & Education Network
and the Illinois Association of County Board
Members and Commissioners; for information
and to register, call 309-756-9978, Rock Island
County Extension, 321 W 2nd Ave, Milan, IL,
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/hmrs, 3pm
Thu Jan 19.
Certified Master Gardener Training, Fridays
thru Apr. 6; the course will cover the follow such
topics as botany, soils, pathology, herbaceous
ornamentals, entomology, landscape principles,
ornamental grasses, woody ornaments,
vegetables, fruits, turf grass, problem solving,
and pesticide safety; $225, with a $50 refund
given following the end of the course; for
ext. 19, Rock Island County Extension, 321 W
2nd Ave, Milan, IL, http://web.extension.illinois.
edu/hmrs, 9am Fri Jan 20.
Getting Started on Your New E-Reader,
learn how to download library e-books to your
new device; free; registration required; for
information, call 309-524-2440, Moline Public
molinelibrary.com, 7pm Wed Jan 25.
3-Day Leadership Through People Skills
Training, an intensive, three-day learning
experience that transforms managers into
leaders by creating the skills necessary to meet
todays business challenges and turn vision into
reality; offered as a non- or for-credit course;
$1,295; for information or to register, call 563-
edu/pdc, 8am Mon Feb 6.
Searching the Internet, free; for information
Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.org,
11:30am Tue Feb 7.
E-mail Basics, free; for information and to
register, call 309-732-7330, Rock Island Public
Library - Main Library, 401 19th, Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 2pm Wed Feb
8.
Files, Folders, & Flashdrives, free; for
Rock Island Public Library - Main Library, 401 19th,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.org,
11:30am Tue Feb 14.
Social Media Basics, free; for information
Wed Feb 15.
The Importance of Broadband for
Community Survival and How E-Government
is Changing the Way Services are Being
Provided, a tele-institute course presented
by the University of Illinois Extension Local
Government Information & Education Network
and the Illinois Association of County Board
Members and Commissioners; for information
County Extension, 321 W 2nd Ave, Milan, IL,
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/hmrs, 3pm
Thu Feb 16.
Project Management Institute (PMP) Exam
Prep, thru Feb. 23; become thoroughly prepared
to take the Project Management Institutes
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certification exam; besides a comprehensive
review of the PMBOK Guide, participants will
receive additional information that has appeared
in the general knowledge section of the exam;
$995; for information or to register, call 563-
edu/pdc, 8:30am Tue Feb 21.
Social Media Workshop, a wide-ranging
synopsis of the fundamental and exemplary
application of social media on the web; learn
how social media can enhance credibility,
relationship building, visibility, familiarity
and trust; $199; for information or to register,
call 563-441-9500 or e-mail pd@sau.edu, St.
Ambrose University Professional Development
Center, 1950 E. 54th St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.sau.edu/pdc, 9am Wed Feb 29.
CLA555, LC7UR5, & VN75
Ongoing
Tai Chi, on Wednesdays; $18 for six weeks;
for information and to register, call 563-386-
7477, CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035
casiseniors.org, 10:30am Wed Nov 23 thru Wed
Nov 30.
Pilates, on Wednesdays; for information, e-
mail qcsoda@gmail.com or call 309-798-0279,
QC SoDa Dance Studio, 1502 6th Ave., Moline, IL,
http://www.qcsoda.com, 5:30pm Wed Nov 23
thru Wed Dec 28.
Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), on
Wednesdays; $1 for CASI members; for
Yoga, on Wednesdays, led by Michelle
Campbell; for information, call 563-322-5354 or
e-mail info@davenportschoolofyoga.com, DSY
Bettendorf, 3420 Towne Pointe Dr., Bettendorf,
IA, http://www.davenportschoolofyoga.com,
7pm Wed Nov 23 and Wed Dec 28.
Zumba Basic, on Mondays & Wednesdays;
$5-6; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
(Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly
Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.
org, 6:30pm Wed Nov 23 thru Dec 28.
Zumba Gold, on Wednesdays; $2 for CASI
members; for information, call 563-386-7477,
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly
Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org,
Hatha & Vinyasa Flow with Elizabeth,
CYT, RYT, on Wednesdays & Thursdays; for
information, call 563-322-5354, DSY Bettendorf,
3420 Towne Pointe Dr., Bettendorf, IA, http://
www.davenportschoolofyoga.com, 8am Wed
Nov 23 thru Thu Dec 29.
Aqua Motion, on Mondays, Wednesdays, &
Fridays; a moderate-intensity class; $6 per visit; for
- Community Aquatic Center, 6600 34th Avenue,
Moline, IL, 11am Wed Nov 23 thru Fri Dec 30.
Gentle Exercise Class, on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays; $2 for CASI members;
Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 9am
Wed Nov 23 thru Fri Dec 30.
Very Gentle Yoga, Wed 9am & 10:45am, Fri 9
& 10:30am; for information, call 563-359-0816,
Unitarian Church of Davenport, 3707 Eastern
Ave, Davenport, IA, http://www.qcuu.org, Wed
Nov 23 thru Fri Dec 30.
Aqua Combo, on Tuesdays & Thursdays; a
moderate- to high-intensity class; $6 per visit; for
- Community Aquatic Center, 6600 34th Avenue,
Moline, IL, 6pm Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Early Thursday Morning Yoga, on Mondays,
with Karen Stollon; drop-ins welcome; for
information and to register, call 309-764-
YOGA, Indigo, A Creative Approach to Fitness &
Wellness, LLC, 1621 5th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.indigowellness.info, 6:30am Thu Nov 24
thru Thu Dec 29.
Hatha & Vinyasa Flow with Elizabeth, CYT,
RYT, on Tuesdays & Thursdays; for information,
call 563-322-5354, DSY Bettendorf, 3420
Towne Pointe Dr., Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
davenportschoolofyoga.com, 6:30am Thu Nov
24 thru Thu Dec 29.
River City Yogas Morning Yoga Class, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays; grow your practice,
expand your heart, and quiet your mind; bring
a yoga mat; for information, call 563-271-0381,
Bettendorf Community Center, 2204 Grant St.,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.rivercity-yoga.com,
9am Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Tae Kwon Do, on Thursdays; $60/month,
first week free; $10 individual classes by
appointment; for information, contact instructor
Dan Arriola at 773-317-8480 or daniel-arriola@
augustana.edu, The Healing Heart Center, 3481
Utica Ridge Rd., Bettendorf, IA, 6:30pm Thu Nov
24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Zumba, on Tuesdays and Thursdays; laugh
and dance your way to an awesome workout;
$6; for information, e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com
or call 309-798-0279, QC SoDa Dance Studio,
com, 5:30pm Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Zumba Gold, on Thursdays; $2-4; for
9:45am Thu Nov 24, 9:45am Thu Dec 1, 9:45am
Thu Dec 8, 9:45am Thu Dec 15, 9:45am Thu Dec
22, 9:45am Thu Dec 29.
CYT, RYT, on Fridays; for information, call
563-322-5354, DSY Bettendorf, 3420 Towne
Pointe Dr., Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
davenportschoolofyoga.com, 5:30pm Fri Nov
25 thru Fri Dec 30.
Yoga, on Fridays at 8 & 9:30am, led by Michelle
Campbell; for information, call 563-322-5354 or
e-mail info@davenportschoolofyoga.com, DSY
8am Fri Nov 25 thru Fri Dec 30.
Zumba, on Fridays; relax and enjoy a low-
impact flexibility workout; $6; for information,
e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com or call 309-798-0279,
http://www.qcsoda.com, 6pm Fri Nov 25 thru
Fri Dec 30.
Yoga Mindfulness, on Saturdays; for
information, call 563-359-0816, Unitarian Church
of Davenport, 3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA,
http://www.qcuu.org, 8am Sat Nov 26 thru Sat
Dec 31.
Simply Meditate Sunday: Buddhist
Meditation, a brief overview of how to do a
breathing meditation, followed by a 10-minute
guided breathing meditation, and an additional
10 minutes allowed for personal meditation;
info@mediateiniowa.org, Lamrim Kadampa
Buddhist Center, 502 1/2 3rd St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.meditateiniowa.org/simply-
meditate, 11am Sun Nov 27 thru Sun Feb 26.
Beginners Bellydance Class, on Mondays;
$8; for information, Musidora4@gmail.com, QC
Mon Dec 26.
Chair Yoga, on Mondays; $30 for 6 sessions;
$5; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
org, 1:30pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
CYT, RYT, on Mondays; for information,
call 563-322-5354, DSY Bettendorf, 3420
Towne Pointe Dr., Bettendorf, IA, http://www.
davenportschoolofyoga.com, 4:30pm Mon Nov
28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Yoga, on Mondays at 9am & 5pm; for
information, call 563-359-0816, Unitarian Church
of Davenport, 3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA,
http://www.qcuu.org, Mon Nov 28 thru Mon
Dec 26.
Yoga, on Mondays, led by Michelle Campbell;
info@davenportschoolofyoga.com, DSY
6pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
Yoga, on Mondays; walk-ins welcome; bring
a yoga mat; $5; for information, call 563-386-
7477, CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035
casiseniors.org, 6:30pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon
Dec 26.
Yoga, on Mondays; with certified instructor
Becky Licandro; $8/session; for information, call
309-788-5433 or e-mail info@center4living.com,
The Center for Living Arts, 2008 4th Ave, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.center4living.com, 6pm
Zumba, on Mondays; relax and enjoy a low-
impact flexibility workout; $6; for information,
e-mail qcsoda@gmail.com or call 309-798-0279,
Mon Dec 26.
Buddhist Meditation Class, on Mondays;
each class provides explanations about how to
meditate and a guided breathing meditation;
then an aspect of Buddhism is explained,
followed by another meditation; $5-$10;
for information, call 563-322-1600, Lamrim
Kadampa Buddhist Center, 502 1/2 3rd St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.meditateiniowa.org,
6:45pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Feb 27.
Meditation Class, on Tuesdays; offered
by the Lamrim Buddhist Center; each class
provides explanations about how to meditate
and a guided breathing meditation, then a topic
is discussed such as compassion, love, wisdom,
followed by another meditation; $10/$5; for
information, call 319-351-9893 or email info@
meditateiniowacity.org, Quad City Botanical
Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://
www.qcgardens.com, 6:45pm Tue Nov 29 thru
Tue Dec 27.
Tae Kwon Do, on Tuesdays; $60/month,
first week free; $10 individual classes by
appointment; for information, contact instructor
Dan Arriola at 773-317-8480 or daniel-arriola@
augustana.edu, The Healing Heart Center, 3481
Utica Ridge Rd., Bettendorf, IA, 6:30pm Tue Nov
29 thru Tue Dec 27.
December and January
Genesis Snow Ball, gala event sponsored by
the Genesis Center for Weight Management; with
live entertainment by Chicagos Green Thirteen,
dancing, healthy, Davenport RiverCenter, 136 E.
3rd St, Davenport, IA, http://www.genesisihealth.
com/snowball, Fri Dec 2.
Indigos 6th Annual Holiday Open
House, with amazing deals on classes, some
great demonstrations, and healthy snacks;
for information and to register, call 309-764-
YOGA, Indigo, A Creative Approach to Fitness &
Wellness, LLC, 1621 5th Ave., Moline, IL, http://
www.indigowellness.info, 3pm Sat Dec 3.
Medicare Q&A with SHIIP, information and
answers to your Medicare questions from a
counselor with SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance
Information Program); free; for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 9am Wed Dec 7 and Wed
Dec 21.
Nutrition Before, During, and After Cancer
Therapy, a Trinity dietitian will discuss nutrient
needs before, during, and after cancer; information
on common herbal and vitamin supplements and
antioxidants; free; for information, call 309-779-
2000 or 877-242-8899, Trinity Regional Health
System, 5pm Thu Dec 29.
Yoga Teacher Training, 6-month, 200-hour
teacher training program; upon completion
you will be eligible for certification through
the Yoga Alliance as a 200-hr Registered Yoga
Teacher; students will have home assignments,
a minimum of 10 hours of community service,
and will complete apprenticeship hours with
Shannon Moran in various classes; with a
workshop with Suddha Weixler, Director of the
Chicago Yoga Center; $2,500; for information and
to register, call 309-764-YOGA, Indigo, A Creative
Approach to Fitness & Wellness, LLC, 1621 5th
Ave., Moline, IL, http://www.indigowellness.info,
7pm Fri Jan 6.
Healthy New Year! Strategies to Achieve Your
Weight Goals in 2012, dietitian Janet Macon,
MS, RD, LD, will discuss strategies to achieve and
sustain lifestyle goals that promote a healthy
weight; healthy samples will be provided; free;
0R0UP5
Grief Support Group, on the 2nd & 4th
Wednesdays of the month; donations accepted;
9:30am Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Life Skills Group, held every other
Wednesday; for information and a schedule, call
309-762-5433, The Project of the Quad Cities,
2316 5th Ave, Moline, IL, http://www.apqc4life.
org, 10am Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Moms Group, held every other Wednesday;
for information and a schedule, call 309-762-
5433, The Project of the Quad Cities, 2316 5th
Ave, Moline, IL, http://www.apqc4life.org, 10am
Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
QC Eating Disorders Support Group, on
Wednesdays; for information, call 563-742-5800,
Trinity Enrichment Center, 4622 Progress Dr. # A,
Davenport, IA, http://www.qceatingdisorders.
com, Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
General MDA Support Group, on the 4th
Wed. of the month; for individuals and families
affected by muscular dystrophy; for information,
call 319-393-8905, Trinity 7th Street Campus,
500 John Deere Rd, Moline, IL, Wed Nov 23 thru
Wed Feb 22.
Symptom Management Group, on
The Project of the Quad Cities, 2316 5th Ave,
Moline, IL, http://www.apqc4life.org, 1pm Wed
Low-Vision Support Group, donations
accepted; for information, call 563-386-7477,
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W.
Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA, http://www.
casiseniors.org, 10am Thu Dec 1.
Fibromyalgia Support Group, on the 1st
and 3rd Mondays of the month; for information,
contact Alicia Owens at 563-421-3460, Genesis
@ Maplecrest, 2535 Maplecrest Rd., Suite 14,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.genesishealth.com,
1pm Mon Dec 5 thru Mon Dec 19.
Caregivers Support Group, donations
casiseniors.org, 11pm Tue Dec 13.
Caregivers Support Group, donations
casiseniors.org, 11pm Tue Dec 13.
Parkinsons Support Group, donations
casiseniors.org, 10am Sat Dec 17.
Stroke Support Group, for information,
contact Alicia Owens at 563-421-3460, Genesis
@ Maplecrest, 2535 Maplecrest Rd., Suite 14,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.genesishealth.com,
2pm Wed Dec 21.
5RVlC5
Genesis Blood Pressure Checks, Wed.
9:30am, Tue. & Thu. 12:30pm, free; for
9:30am Wed Nov 23 thru Thu Dec 29.
Shamanic Healing, power animal discovery,
soul retrieval, spiritual counseling, and
ceremonies and rights of passage; services free
to veterans of war; for information, call Kathleen
Collins at 563-332-4361 or e-mail ostrichkc@live.
com, Wed Nov 23 thru Sat Dec 31.
Genesis Foot Clinic, on scheduled Mondays,
Thursdays, and Fridays; $20; reservations
required; for information and a
schedule of dates, call 563-386-
7477, CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road,
Davenport, IA, http://www.
casiseniors.org, 8:30am Fri Nov
25 thru Fri Dec 23.
Blood Pressure Checks, on
Mondays; with Dr. Lynn Boegler,
D.C.; free; for information, call
563-386-7477, CASI (Center
for Active Seniors), 1035 W.
Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA,
http: //www. casi seni ors. org,
11am Mon Nov 28 thru Mon
Dec 26.
Blood Drive, your last
donation must be on or before
July 25, 2011; walk-ins welcome;
read the Reader in print and
online; for information and
to schedule an appointment,
call 309-736-6635, Bethany for
Children & Families, 1202 W 3rd
St, Davenport, IA, http://www.
molinecentre.org, 10am Mon
Dec 12.
November & December
TRIAD (Reducing Crime Against Seniors),
Wed Nov 23.
Backyard Naturalist, an introduction to the
amazing animals and plants in your backyard
and neighborhood; learn to identify and interact
with the plants and creatures around you; free; for
1pm Sat Nov 26.
Finding Faith and Fiction in China, author Bo
Caldwell will speak about the intersection of her
own background, faith, and religion, and the clash
of Eastern and Western cultures; refreshments
served; part of the universitys yearlong series,
China Project: The Awakening Dragon; free; for
information, contact Micah Kiel at 563-333-6121,
Rogalski Center - St. Ambrose University, 518 W.
Locust St., Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu,
7pm Wed Nov 30.
Iowans Out West: Grizzly Bears in Montana,
register by Nov. 30 for Dec. 3 lecture and dinner;
Iowa DNR District Biologist Curt Kemmerer will
share his experience of researching grizzly bears
out west; $9; for information, call 563-652-3783,
Hurstville Interpretive Center, 18670 63th St.,
Maquoketa, IA, http://www.jacksonccb.com, 4pm
Wed Nov 30.
Stand Next to Me Closely: Literary Collage
and The Vanishing of Camille Claudel, English
instructor and poet Erin Bertram will discuss literary
collage, and examine the iconic and enigmatic
French sculptor who spent the last three decades
of her life in an asylum, committed against her
will; a presentation in the Womens and Gender
Studies Tea Hour Series; free; for information,
contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augstuana.edu
or 309-794-7721, Carlsson Evald Hall - Augustana
augustana.edu, 4pm Wed Nov 30.
Acts of Faith: Interfaith Leadership in a
Time of Global Religious Crisis, a community
convocation lecture with Eboo Patel, a former
member of the White House Office of Faith-based
and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the founder
and president of the Chicago-based organization
Interfaith Youth Core; free; for information,
contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.
edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial Hall, Augustana
augustana.edu, 10:30am Thu Dec 1.
Inside the Music:
Masterworks III, lecture and
discussion on the weekends
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
concerts; 5pm hors doeuvres
and cash bar, 5:30pm program;
for information, call 563-322-
QCSO, Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E.
3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.qcsymphony.com, 5pm
Thu Dec 1.
WorldCanvass: Iowa and
Invisible Man, a discussion
of culture, history, literature,
language, politics and art, all
surrounding this international
theme; free, Senate Chamber
of the Old Capitol, 201 S Clinton
St, Iowa City, IA, http://accents.
i nt er nat i onal . ui owa. edu/
worldcanvass, 5pm Fri Dec 2.
Concert Conversations
w/ Kai Swanson, a quick
tour of highlights from the
evenings Quad City Symphony
Orchestra Concerti for Celli
concert, with the conductor and guest artists; free;
for information, call 563-322-0931, ext 16, Adler
Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
qcsymphony.com, 6:30pm Sat Dec 3.
Concert Conversations w/ Kai Swanson, a
quick tour of highlights from the evenings Quad
City Symphony Orchestra Concerti for Celli
concert, with the conductor and guest artists;
free; for information, call 563-322-0931, ext 16,
Centennial Hall, Augustana College, 3703 7th Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.qcsymphony.com,
1pm Sun Dec 4.
Can the environment and cultural treasure
of El Choco be savedfor the residents and
for us?, a community convocation lecture with
documentarian and activist Steve Cagan, who will
discuss the threats to the rainforest culture, as well
as share information on flora, fauna, and aspects
of daily life in El Choco; free; for information,
contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.
edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial Hall, Augustana
augustana.edu, 10:30am Thu Dec 8.
Hurray for Herps, join a naturalist in learning
about reptiles and amphibians that inhabit Iowa;
live critters will be on display; free; for information,
call 563-652-3783, Hurstville Interpretive Center,
18670 63th St., Maquoketa, IA, http://www.
jacksonccb.com, 1pm Sat Dec 10.
CASI Travelogue: Spectacular Lands &
Wondrous Waters, free for CASI members; for
IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 1pm Mon Dec 12.
Art Bettis, a lecture with Bettis of the UI
Department of Geoscience, presented in the UI
Explorers Seminar Series; free; for information,
call 319-335-0606 or e-mail uimnh@uiowa.edu,
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, 10
Macbride Hall, Iowa City, IA, http://www.uiowa.
edu/mnh, 7pm Thu Dec 15.
Talk of the Town Presentation, free for CASI
members; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
Davenport, IA, http://www.casiseniors.org, 11am
Wed Dec 21.
1pm Sat Dec 24.
TRIAD (Reducing Crime Against Seniors),
Wed Dec 28.
Dario Robletos The Com-
mon Denominator of Exis-
tence Is Loss @ Des Moines
Art Center through
January 15
to have landed even one of his plays on the
universitys mainstage schedule.
Theyve done student-written works in
the studio space, and when Cory [Corinne
Johnson] originally spoke to me about
doing a show, I assumed thats what we
were talking about. And then she said, Kris
Eitrheim [a St. Ambrose theatre professor
and the mainstage set designer] will be the
scenic director ... . And Im like, For the
studio? Really? He laughs. So I dont know.
Im very excited to be doing this, and I feel
very blessed. But its kind of crazy.
Creative Outlet
While not a theatre major when he first
attended St. Ambrose from 1998 to 2002,
Randolph was a frequent theatre participant,
acting in such university productions as
Macbeth, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and
Play It Again, Sam. Yet at the time, says the
Davenport resident, he didnt feel a strong
urge to write plays; that came once he
entered the working world.
After I graduated, I was doing all of these
miserable jobs that I hated, says Randolph.
Id been trying to find a career path, but
while I was doing that, I did sales, I worked
in food service ... all these jobs that were
not enjoyable.
I just needed some sort of creative outlet,
he continues. And Ive always enjoyed
writing, but Id never really tried playwriting.
So I just started taking these experiences,
and characters Id meet because in sales
you meet all sorts of weird people and
writing little scenes about them.
THEATRE
St. Ambrose Student Aaron Randolph III Authors Two Wintertime Productions
Playwright at Your Side
very year, St. Ambrose Universitys

theatre department produces four
mainstage shows over the nine months
that school is in session. Its somewhat sur-
prising, then, that given the myriad authors
to choose from, the university opted to
reserve half of the slots in its 2011-12 season
for works by a single playwright.
Yet whats more surprising is that the
author in question isnt one of the usual
theatrical suspects Shakespeare or
Williams or ONeill. Rather, its St. Ambrose
student Aaron Randolph III, a 32-year-
old pursuing additional degrees after
graduating in 2002 from the schools music
department. His family musical Dakota
Jones & the Search for Atlantis will be staged
in the universitys Galvin Fine Arts Center
December 3 and 4, and his comedy The
Plagiarists runs February 24 through 26.
Corinne Johnson, head of St. Ambroses
theatre department, says this marks the
first time that a current student has had
an original play let alone two original
plays produced on the Galvin stage. Yet
the decision to produce Randolphs scripts
back-to-back, she says, was hardly a tough
one, considering the enormous educational
possibilities in having theatre students
not only work on debuting material, but
alongside the plays actual author. (Randolph
is set to earn his new St. Ambrose degrees
this May.)
Were doing this for very personal,
and also very academic, reasons, says
Johnson, who will direct The Plagiarists.
Im really encouraged and captivated
by Aarons diversity. But its also exciting
for our students, as well as for me, to see
how a script is workshopped, and how it
evolves and devolves hopefully evolves
throughout the experience, and where it
winds up at the end. I know I was thrilled
about the opportunity of working on a new
script with the playwright at my side.
Daniel D.P. Sheridan, the Davenport
Junior Theatre artistic director who also
serves as director for Dakota Jones, agrees. I
havent worked with a lot of original plays,
he says, and whats great is that Aaron and
I are always in the space together, so that
even on the fly, I can lean over and say, Hey,
lets give this a shot, and hell say Great!, and
well see if it works. We make changes every
day. And every single day of rehearsal, we
come out of the process a little more excited
about the show.
As for Randolph himself (who, like
Johnson and Sheridan, is also an ensemble
member with the areas Curtainbox Theatre
Company as am I), he says he feels lucky
Those scenes led to Randolph
experimenting with longer scenes, which
led to him writing several one-act comedies,
which eventually led to his authoring a two-
act, war-veteran drama titled A Green River.
It was something I could do on my own,
says Randolph of playwriting, that didnt
require any special tools, and I discovered I
really enjoyed it.
Realizing that what I really wanted to
have was a job that was flexible enough for
me to also do theatre, Randolph decided to
return to St. Ambrose in the fall of 2010, in
pursuit of degrees in theatre and computer
networking. (You can guess which one is
gonna be my day job, he says with a laugh.)
And while St. Ambrose didnt offer a specific
course in playwriting, Randolph believed he
could at least receive a tangential education
through other theatre classes.
I knew that if I wanted to write plays,
I needed to really know what I was doing.
And I love acting, but if you also know about
direction and design, youre going to be a
lot better off. Plus, he adds, I knew that if
I went back to study theatre, I could take an
independent-study seminar.
With Johnson as his instructor, Randolph
did begin an independent-study course in
playwriting, which is where The Plagiarists
and the first of its numerous drafts
originated.
With everything I had written up to that
point, says Randolph, I had lots of time
to develop the ideas. So what I said to Cory
was, I want to see if I can come up with an
idea really quickly. So I want you to give me
a deadline and say, You will write a play by
this date. And thats kind of what we did.
As with his early stabs at playwriting,
the idea that would eventually lead to The
Plagiarists was, he says, inspired by a real
person, one whom Randolph has recently
become fascinated with.
The play, says Randolph, is about an
art student, Stacy, who gets to study with a
famous artist she has idealized from afar, and
who teaches her about his style and brings
her under his wing. But hes a very infamous
artist, because what he does is take pictures
of other artists work, crop them and blow
them up, and present them as his work.
(Off-the-record, Randolph names the artist
that the concept is based on, but it should be
easily gleaned by anyone familiar with the
modern-art scene especially considering
that The Plagiarists infamous artist
character is named Richard.)
Randolph continues, So the play
questions the idea of ownership, and the
idea of Where does inspiration stop and
plagiarism begin? But I also wanted to make
the play itself representative of Richards
art style. So what I did throughout the
play, seamlessly integrated into scenes, was
include scenes from other plays.
In the present draft of the comedy,
says Randolph, The Plagiarists original
dialogue routinely leads to dialogue from a
half-dozen published scripts, among them
such well-known works as David Mamets
Oleanna, Yasmina Rezas Art, and Paula
Vogels Pulitzer Prize-winner How I Learned
to Drive. Which means, of course, that one
of the plagiarists of the shows title as its
author readily concedes is the author
himself.
I didnt want to pick plays that were
brand-new, says Randolph, because no one
would know the dialogue. And I didnt want
to pick plays that were really famous. But I
did want people to hear certain lines and say,
Wa-a-ait a second ... ! The plays designed to
have you ask, Whats real? and Whats not?
and Is this a copy or is this original?, and
so the style ties into the story. I mean, Im
not stealing lines and pretending theyre my
work. Im intentionally using them because
no one will think theyre my work.
I feel fortunate to be directing it, says
Johnson of The Plagiarists, which she
praises especially for Randolphs having
used inspiration that is so provocative. And
saying that he worked on the play with
me [as an independent-study project] is
really a misnomer. I think I just gave him
deadlines, and read things along the way, and
applauded, and said, Oh, cool.
Yet while shes a fan of The Plagiarists in
its current form, Johnson adds that because
Februarys production is an educational-
theatre workshop of a debuting script, I
would really love for it to be re-written all
the way through to closing night, even to the
extent of my factoring in some rehearsals
after the show has opened. Because Id like
Aaron to see how the audience responds, and
if, indeed, he wants to try different things,
hell be able to interpolate or insert them
even though our limited run.
That notion appears to suit Randolph fine,
as the playwright says he greatly appreciates
feedback on his works-in-progress: Its
always helpful to have an audience there.
Because sometimes youll think, This part
is hilarious! and no one will laugh at it, and
other times youll get to something you think
is just a random line and theyll be like, That
was so funny! You have no way of knowing
how people are going to react until they do.
Cody E. Johnson, Stacy Phipps, and Tim
Stompanato in Dakota Jones & the
Search for Atlantis
By Mike Schulz
mike@rcreader.com
Underwater Scene On-Stage
While The Plagiarists was decided on for
St. Ambroses 2011-12 season following its
independent-study completion in the spring,
Johnson says that Dakota Jones & the Search
for Atlantis for which Randolph not only
wrote the script but composed the music
and lyrics was a project that its author was
specifically commissioned for.
Musicals are wonderful opportunities
for our students, she says, as well as for the
younger students seeing the shows. And while
there are many to choose from, weve already
done a lot of them, so I always have a hard
time finding a script that I really like one
thats smart and interesting, and that suits our
student-actor population. But Aaron had an
undergrad degree in music, so I said, Why
dont you write something?
Despite limited experience in songwriting
Occasionally, Ill write a cheesy love
song for my wife, he says with a chuckle
Randolph had done a fair share of music
composition, and was enthusiastic about
giving an hour-long childrens musical a shot.
And my first thought was to do a childrens
version of [Jules Vernes] 20,000 Leagues
Under the Sea. I really liked the idea of having
this underwater scene on-stage, which I
thought would be really neat to see.
But evidently, he continues, that was
too terrifying. They thought the giant squid
might be a little too scary for kids. And it
probably wouldnt have been a good idea. But
I knew thats where I wanted the play to end
up underwater and so I said, How can I
get to this?
The story that he eventually came up with,
says Randolph, is about this little girl who
likes to go on adventures in her imagination.
And the premise is that, one day in class, she
learns about Greek mythology, and decides
to go on an adventure to find the lost city of
Atlantis. Poseidon has this magic trident thats
broken into three parts, and Dakota has to
find each part of the trident with the help of
different characters in Greek mythology. So it
kind of becomes like The Wizard of Oz, with
Dakota meeting all these wacky people on her
journey.
With Dakota Jones story in place,
Randolph says that the shows songs
consequently all came out of the story.
And because mythological characters are so
visually diverse things like like the minotaur,
with the bulls head, or Medusa I knew
I wanted the show to be really musically
diverse. So Ive tried to include music from a
lot of different categories. Some of the songs
are your standard musical-theatre fare, like
Rodgers & Hammerstein, and some have
more of a calypso sound, and one is kind of
like a torch song ... .
As Randolph tells it, though, composing
the shows music proved far less taxing than
composing its lyrics. Having to write lyrics
is ... torture, says Randolph with a laugh. I
am not a lyricist. In fact, I had asked other
people if they would write the lyrics to it, but
ultimately, it fell on my plate. I think they
came out fine, and in some cases good, but I
am certainly not a poet.
According to director Sheridan, whatever
failings Randolph might have in the poetry
department are hardly hindering the
production as a whole.
The chemistry of the characters hes put
together just clicks, he says. And the actors
are bringing so much to it that I feel like at
this point in the process [Sheridan spoke to
me two weeks before Dakota Jones premiere],
the show is starting to steer itself. Which is the
way it should be. Were able to get out of the
way and just try to be good listeners in terms
of what helps the story, rather than trying to
force anything.
With Randolph also serving as the
productions music director, he says that the
Dakota Jones rehearsal process has worked
out really well, because people can come up
to me at rehearsals, and Im there to bounce
ideas off, and I can be there to make changes
to music and the script ... . Ive really been
overjoyed with how well its working.
He adds that hes also thrilled for the
chance to help stage a family production of
such lavish spectacle and professionalism.
In theatre, I think we sometimes discount
childrens shows because theyre maybe
not as artistically important as, you know,
Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller, says
Randolph. But I think its really important
to get kids excited and interested in theatre. I
mean, my first memory of the theatre is seeing
this really fun production of Snow White as a
little kid. I just loved it, and I wanted to be a
part of it, you know? And thats how I still feel.
Even if its not going to be a full-time source of
income, its a huge part of my life. I just want
to do it more.
And does the currently ubiquitous St.
Ambrose author have another playwriting
project on the horizon? Oh, no, he stresses.
My other project right now is sleeping.
Dakota Jones & the Search for Atlantis runs
December 3 and 4, The Plagiarists runs
February 24 through 26, and both shows will be
staged in St. Ambrose Universitys Galvin Fine
Arts Center. For tickets and more information,
call (563)333-6251 or visit SAU.edu/galvin.
Christmas
AT AUGUSTANA
Featuring performances by the Augustana Brass Ensemble,
the Augustana Symphony Orchestra, the Augustana
Choir, Ascension Singers, Cantilena Augustana, Jenny
Lind Vocal Ensemble, and the Wennerberg Chorus, this
moving holiday concert is not to be missed!
Friday, December 2 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m.
Centennial Hall
3703 7th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois
Tickets: $20 for adults, $16 for senior citizens,
$10 for students and children
www.augustana.edu/ticketsor call the Ticket Offce
at 309.794.7306
Study Vs. Reality
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
totaling $126.0 million an average of $6
million a year. That included a first-year
budget of $8.28 million, dropping to $3.98
million the second year, rising to $4.41
million the third year, and then rising roughly
$200,000 a year to a 21st-year cost of $7.94
million.
Adding in the
estimated savings
would mean
dispatching costs of
more than $130.6
million without
consolidation,
according to CTA.
The savings represent
3.56 percent of
projected costs without
consolidation.
The study includes
debt-service payments
of $360,000 a year
totaling $7.56 million over the 21 years. It
also includes capital costs of $4.43 million in
the first year, and then capital costs of $295,000
each year for years three through 21 for a
total of just over $10 million.
The SECC relied on bond funding greater
than that in CTAs breakdown of annual costs
with actual bond proceeds of $10.1 million
in Fiscal Year 2010 and $7.5 million in 2011
so the study expected higher up-front costs.
The SECC is spreading those costs out.
CTA also did not include the cost of new
radios in its projections. (It recommended a
study to look at the issue.) Those cost almost
$7 million.
Still, its possible to illuminate whether
cost savings articulated by CTA are likely to
happen.
The SECCs current fiscal-year budget is
$7.19 million. That includes debt service of
$665,000, and theres an additional $915,000
for SECC equipment bonds elsewhere in the
county budget. Expense-wise, this is basically
the second budget year for SECC operations,
and roughly $16 million has been spent.
If the SECC spends an average of $5.79
million for the next 19 years, the project
would have the same 21-year cost as full
consolidation as estimated by CTA. If one adds
the cost of radios to the CTA estimate which
the study expected but did not include as an
expense the SECC could meet the projection
with an average budget of $6.16 million for the
next 19 years.
To meet the CTA estimate for costs
without consolidation, the SECC would need
to spend an average of $6.03 million for 19
years. Adding the cost of radios to the CTA
no-consolidation estimate, the average SECC
budget moving forward would need to be
$6.40 million.
Put simply, SECC spending would need to
be drastically reduced from its current level
over an extended period of time to meet even
the no-consolidation costs that CTA projected.
If, on the other hand, the current SECC
spending level remains the same for the next
19 years, the SECC would spend more than
$152 million over 21 years
$22 million more than
the projected cost of no
consolidation, and $15
million more than the
no-consolidation cost plus
radios.
And scaled-back or
even stable spending is
unlikely if the proposed
$7.35-million SECC
budget for Fiscal Year
2012-13 is any indication.
So if taxpayers want to
see the cost benefits CTA
projected, theyll need to keep a close eye on
the SECC board. The board produces a budget,
which is then approved without modification
(according to the founding intergovernmental
agreement) by the Emergency Management
Agency (EMA) board. The Scott County
Board of Supervisors (again according to the
founding intergovernmental agreement) shall
approve a countywide special levy ... to fund
said budget for the next fiscal year as part of its
annual budget adoption.
This explicitly states that the EMA board
has no say on the SECC budget, and it implies
that supervisors hands are tied, as well. So
keeping the SECC budget in check requires
pressure on its five-member board: the chair of
Scott County Board of Supervisors, the mayors
of Davenport, Bettendorf, and another Scott
County city (presently Eldridge), and the chair
of the Medic EMS board.
Explaining Higher Costs
To understand why its unlikely the SECC
will meet CTAs cost-saving projections, its
useful to look at specifics.
Consider these differences between the
CTA study and reality.
CTA estimated 48 full-time equivalents
(FTEs) for consolidated dispatch and
administration, noting that the unconsolidated
dispatching required 58.5. Excluding two
warrant-clerk positions outside the scope of
CTAs study, the SECCs current budget allows
for 55.5 FTEs.
CTA anticipated 43 FTEs for dispatchers
and shift supervisors alone. The SECCs budget
allows for 48.
First- and second-year personnel costs
were estimated by CTA at $3.15 million and
$3.27 million, respectively. The current SECC
budget allows for $4.31 million. (That includes
two warrant clerks not anticipated by CTA.)
By CTAs estimates, personnel expenses would
have first exceeded $4.31 million in the 10th
year post-consolidation.
CTA said a 7,800-square-foot stand-alone
facility would be adequate for emergency
dispatching, administration, and equipment.
It further said that an additional 1,500 to
2,000 square feet would be adequate for an
emergency-operations center. And centralized
warrants could be added in 750 to 800 square
feet. The total square footage for all those
functions comes to 10,050 to 10,600. The
SECC building is 27,000 square feet.
CTA estimated a 7,800-square-foot
building could be constructed for $2.34
million. The much-larger SECC building cost
$7.31 million.
CTA said a suitable computer-aided
dispatching and record-management system
would cost $1.03 million. The software, chosen
through a competitive-bidding process, cost
$2.7 million.
These illustrate the disconnect between
the CTA study and actual expenses, and they
underscore why cost savings are unlikely to
happen; both capital and key annual operating
expenses are higher than those in the CTA
study.
Administrators
involved in the SECC
gave several examples of
how theyve been good
stewards of taxpayer
money. SECC Director
Brian Hitchcock noted
that through a functional
architectural analysis,
the design of the SECC
building was reduced
from 36,000 square feet
to 27,000. And because
of the recession, bids
for the building came in
lower than expected. The
schematic design for the building (by Wold
Architects) was approved by the SECC board
in February 2009, with an estimated cost of
$10.8 million.
Hitchcock added that CTA underestimated
space needs. He said that a consolidation he
oversaw in McHenry County, Illinois, was a
smaller operation and still required more than
7,000 square feet. Whoever put that report
together, did they actually do a consolidation
before that? he asked.
James Dye was project manager for the
CTA Communications study and is now the
vice president of AECOM (the company
CTA became part of) overseeing 911-services
consulting. He said last week that he didnt
recall specifics of the 2006 document but
that the Iowa Quad Cities area was not his
companys first consolidation study. AECOM
has now done 31 consolidation studies, he
said, but the Quad Cities probably was early
in our career.
Dye said space and cost estimates were
based on previous studies and consolidations.
But he acknowledged that the goal of the
study was to create a conceptual guideline.
Each component of the consolidation, he said,
required additional study and refinement
beyond the CTA recommendations. Were
trying to give people a concept or an idea, he
said.
He also said that cost is something that
must be addressed in a study, but its not the
driving force; better service is the primary
goal. He downplayed cost savings projected in
the CTA Communications report, saying: We
may have expressed the idea of cost savings.
Scott County Administrator Dee Bruemmer
a nonvoting member of the SECC board
said that a consolidated-dispatch center that
CTA used as a model is in an expansion. ...
Theyre too small. She added that the SECC
building had to fit our needs today but also
in the future. (CTAs estimates were based
on Scott County population growth of 13.7
percent from 2000 to 2025 and 9.1 percent
from 2010 to 2025.)
Adding an
emergency-
management center
and centralized
warrants to the SECC
building must also be
considered. Hitchcock
guessed that 40 percent
of the building is
primarily for non-
dispatching functions,
which would put the
dispatching at roughly
16,000 square feet
double the size CTA
recommended. (The
SECC budget does not include Emergency
Management Agency personnel and
operations, but it does pay utilities for the
entire building.)
As for personnel, the SECC is obviously
closer to the no-consolidation staffing
numbers than CTAs.
Hitchcock said there wont be a smaller
number of dispatchers through consolidation.
Thats a function of both previous under-
staffing at dispatch centers which the CTA
study addressed and increased call volume.
Davenport was understaffed for the
number of calls, Bruemmer said. This is
balancing it out. The other thing is youre
going to have dispatchers not needing a lot of
overtime hours and holdovers. So youre going
NEWS
The study said there
was money to be
saved, but thats
unlikely to happen
when consolidation is
designed, in part, to
help cities circumvent
property-tax caps.
CTA estimated a 7,800-
square-foot building
could be constructed
for $2.34 million. The
much-larger SECC
building cost $7.31
million.
that meant.
Caldwells mother had long encouraged
her to write a book based on the lives of
her missionary grandparents. I had shied
away from it, she said. I had thought that
the story of missionaries lives would not be
very interesting.
But she revisited her grandfathers
memoir, and I saw it ... through a novelists
eyes rather than a granddaughters eyes for
the first time.
That suggests that following that
epiphany, the path to City of Tranquil Light
was direct. It was not.
Her initial approach, she said, was to
treat the missionaries faith like a character.
It doesnt have to be about mine.
She began writing, and the 80 pages she
produced were typically problematic, she
said: My first drafts arent very good. ... A
lot of times, thats just part of the process.
For me the analogy is building a house. ... If
you drive by a house being built and its two-
by-fours and drywall, you dont say, Oh,
thats so ugly. You say, Oh yeah, thats what
a house looks like when its being built. And
you can kind of get hints of what its going to
look like ... . My early drafts just look awful
to me; its just two-by-fours.
This time, however, there was something
different. In this case, she said, it really
was awful. It wasnt just two-by-fours.
In retrospect, she said, she recognizes that
it was just me trying to write this story that
I kind of liked, but my heart wasnt really in
it. ... The character of the missionary was
not real at all yet. His faith wasnt real ... .
It was very kind of godly in language but
nothing else.
In the fall of 2004, she was diagnosed with
stage-one breast cancer, which put the novel
on hold. She occasionally revisited what she
had written. It looked not only bad, but it
looked like bad writing that someone else
had done, she said. It just was so far away.
When she returned to working the
BOOKS
Go Back to China
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
book, she said, her faith had changed. It
was two years after her diagnosis, and
she was on vacation in Mexico. I started
writing the very end of the book, where
the main character is looking back on his
life and talking about his faith. ... It was a
whole different thing. The voice was more
authentic. And it was me writing about my
feelings and my faith through this character.
... And that opened the door. It just kind of
breathed life right back into the novel. Even
from that day, I felt like I could do it.
During cancer treatments, she said, I
had to rely on God in a way that I never had
before and really trust him. When I came
back to the novel later on, I didnt want
to write about my grandfathers faith and
kind of pretend. I was going to use that as
a safety shield ... to be honest. I was scared
to write about faith. ... When I came back
to it, I understood much more about my
grandfathers trust of God. ... I learned a lot
about trust through illness. And so I was
much more willing and excited about faith
being part of the novel instead of it just
being something that I was going to hold at
arms length.
Caldwell said shes beginning work on a
new novel, about a single mother and her
daughter in California in the 1940s and 50s.
She said she might visit China one day as a
daughter, niece, and granddaughter, but she
said its unlikely shell ever return there as a
novelist. Im finished with China right now.
... I cant imagine doing something else in
China.
Bo Caldwell will present Finding Faith &
Fiction in China at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,
November 30, in the Rogalksi Center at St.
Ambrose University (518 West Locust Street
in Davenport).
For more information on St. Ambrose
Universitys China Project, visit RCReader.
com/y/china.
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
to get optimum personnel usage.
The numbers are probably the same, said
Bettendorf City Administrator Decker Ploehn,
also a nonvoting member of the SECC board.
Our ability to sustain that number [without
having to add dispatching positions] for a
longer period of time is happening with this.
Well be able to
answer more calls
and cover more
territory with better
situational awareness
than we ever would
be able to separately,
said Davenport
City Administrator
Craig Malin, another
nonvoting member of
the SECC board.
Bruemmer added
that the pay scale is
lower for dispatchers
under Scott County than it was under the
cities. That ... benefits the taxpayer, she said.
Benefits to Taxpayers?
Or Benefits to Cities?
The argument that consolidated dispatch
benefits the taxpayer in a broad sense is
largely intuitive.
I cant conceive how four stand-alone
operations could potentially be as efficient
over the long haul as a centralized operation,
Malin said. Thats a standard business strategy
to consolidate your expenses and optimize
all your resources. Thats whats going on
here. I cannot conceive that over 10 years or
20 years that this will cost more money. Its
unfathomable.
Bruemmer added: The operation, clearly.
Thats an important distinction. On a
personnel and efficiency level, its certainly
possible likely, even that SECC will fare
better than the previous situation of four
separate dispatching centers and staffs. But the
capital costs also have to be figured in.
When asked about the CTA estimate of $4.6
million in savings over 20 years, Bruemmer
said, I dont think weve recomputed that
number. ... That study was a guideline, and
it did steer us to the 28E [intergovernmental
agreement] and the consolidation.
Ploehn and Malin noted that after
moving dispatching expenses out of the
their municipal budgets, their cities lowered
their property-tax rates Bettendorf by 25
cents, Davenport by 5 cents and used the
remainder of savings for new services and
capital projects. (Those were discussed in the
previous article.)
In other words, rather than passing the
entirety of dispatching savings to taxpayers
through a lower property-tax rate, Bettendorf
and Davenport have increased spending in
other areas. Ploehn said that if his city hadnt
shifted 50 additional cents of its property-tax
rate to debt service for new capital projects, it
could have lowered its property-tax rate by 75
cents.
But lower municipal
property-tax rates
must be considered in
concert with the countys
property-tax rate, which
was 90 cents higher in
Fiscal Year 2011 than in
2010 all attributable
to a $1 increase in the
special emergency-
management tax-levy
rate. Even if Bettendorf,
for example, had used its
entire dispatching savings
for property-tax relief,
residents would still be paying 15 cents more
per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
So in the most basic sense, consolidated
dispatch hasnt paid any short-term financial
dividends to taxpayers. And again: Unless the
SECC budget is significantly reduced, there
will be no financial dividends to taxpayers.
Cities, however, are another matter.
And here it helps to return to the CTA
study, which articulates the funding
mechanism for SECC and a crucial appeal:
It lets cities shift dispatching expenses to the
county, which can then fund them through a
special tax levy thats not subject to caps. So
while cities and school districts, for instance,
are limited in what they can spend by caps
on property taxes, the SECC has no such
constraint.
The Iowa Legislature severely impacted
the ability of cities, such as Davenport, to raise
revenue through taxes, the study explains.
It set a cap of $8.10 per $1,000 of assessed
valuation and rolled back the assessed value to
be a greatly reduced percentage of the actual
value of residence.
As a solution, the study offers this: The
County Board of Supervisors has the ability
to create a Local Emergency Management
Fund and fund it through a special levy. That
levy is not subject to any of the caps on taxes.
The local emergency-management fund could
be used to fund the costs of the consolidated
dispatch if the dispatch were part of the
Emergency Management Agency.
This might help explain why cost savings
arent being realized, and how the project
grew beyond its initial scope. CTA said there
was money to be saved, but thats unlikely to
happen when consolidation is designed, in
part, to help cities circumvent property-tax
caps.
Spending would need to
be drastically reduced
from its current level
over an extended period
of time to even meet the
no-consolidation costs
that the study projected.
January & February
How Do Naked Newborns Become Boys and
Girls?, a community convocation lecture with Dr.
Anne Fausto-Sterling, an expert in biology and
gender differences; Dr. Fausto-Sterlingharing
will share her dynamic systems approach to the
study, and why she believes the premise of the
nature-versus-nurture debate is flawed; free; for
information, contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@
augustana.edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial Hall,
http://www.augustana.edu, 10:30am Thu Jan 12.
Civil War Ghosts and Legends, with singer-
storyteller Brian Fox Ellis, telling true stories and
legends of the bloody battlefields, gruesome
field hospitals, and haunted graveyards of
Americas Civil War; Ellis will appear as Mathias
Stritt, a German immigrant who marched with
General Sherman as he burned Atlanta; free; for
information, call 309-524-2470, Moline Public
Conquering Canaan and Making Men?:
Masculinity in the Book of Judges, a
presentation in the Womens and Gender Studies
Tea Hour Series, presented by Kelly Murphy; free;
for information, contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@
augstuana.edu or 309-794-7721, Carlsson Evald
Hall - Augustana College, 3601 7th Ave., Rock
Island, IL, http://www.augustana.edu, 4pm Wed
Jan 18.
Callie Crossley, a community convocation
lecture with the broadcast journalist, documentary
filmmaker, and television and radio commentator,
who will discuss the collision of old and new
media, media and politics, media literacy, and the
intersection of race, gender, and media; free; for
information, contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@
augustana.edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial Hall,
http://www.augustana.edu, 10:30am Thu Jan 26.
WorldCanvass: Women, Hysteria, and
Medicine, a discussion of culture, history,
literature, language, politics and art, all
surrounding this international theme; free, Senate
Chamber of the Old Capitol, 201 S Clinton St, Iowa
City, IA, http://accents.international.uiowa.edu/
worldcanvass, 5pm Fri Jan 27.
1pm Sat Jan 28.
Fasching and Karneval, Kathi Hofmann shares
the merry madness of German Mardi Gras with
many photos from her year of attending Fasching
parades and festivals in Germany; for information,
call 563-322-8844, German American Heritage
Center, 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
gahc.org, 2pm Sun Jan 29.
Brian Ellis, a community convocation lecture
with the science teacher, who will step into
Darwins shoes to model the scientific process
through dramatic storytelling, stand-up comedy,
and show-and-tell; free; for information, contact
Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.edu or 309-
794-7721, Centennial Hall, Augustana College,
3703 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.
augustana.edu, 10:30am Thu Feb 9.
Inside the Music: Masterworks IV, lecture and
discussion on the weekends Quad City Symphony
Orchestra concerts; 5pm hors doeuvres and
cash bar, 5:30pm program; for information, call
563-322-QCSO, Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E. 3rd St.,
Davenport, IA, http://www.qcsymphony.com,
5pm Thu Feb 9.
Spirituality for Empowerment, a Social Work
http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Monday, November 28 Jim Brickman: A
Chrtistmas Celebration. Multi-platinum-selling
recording artist in his holiday concert, with musical
guests Anne Cochran, Benjamin Utecht, and Tracy
Silverman. Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street,
Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $27-67. For tickets, call
(800)745-3000 or visit AdlerTheatre.com.
Thursday, December 1, and Friday,
December 2 Branson on the Road: Christmas
Style. Holiday music, old country favorites, and
comedy with the famed touring performers. Circa
21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock
Island). Thursday show-only performance 7 p.m.,
$22.50-27.50. Friday plated-lunch performance
1 p.m., $41.28. For tickets and information, call
(309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Friday, December 2, and Saturday,
December 3 Christmas at Augustana. Holiday
concert featuring performances by the Augustana
Brass Ensemble, Augustana Symphony Orchestra,
Augustana Choir, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble,
Wennerberg Mens Chorus, Cantilena Augustana,
and more. Augustana Colleges Centennial Hall
(3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $10-20.
For tickets and information, call (309)794-7306 or
visit Augustana.edu.
Saturday, December 3, and Sunday,
December 4 Quad City Symphony Orchestra:
Concerti for Celli. Conductor Mark Russell Smiths
third Masterworks concerts of the season, with
guest cellists Anthony Ross and Beth Rapier Ross,
and a program featuring Abels Global Warming,
Vivaldis Concerto for Two Cellos, Otts Concerto for
Two Cellos, and Brahms Symphony No. 1. Saturday
Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport),
7:30 p.m. Sunday Augustana Colleges Centennial
Hall (3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island), 2 p.m.
$11-53. For tickets and information, call (563)322-
7276 or visit QCSymphony.com.
Saturday, December 3 Hersongs Warm
Winter Concert. Annual holiday presentation
with the Quad Cities womens chorus. St. Johns
Lutheran Church (4501 Seventh Avenue, Rock
Island). 6 p.m. Admission: donations of cash or
new blankets to be distributed by Churches
United of the Quad Cities area and theplace2be.
For information, call (309)737-9898 or e-mail
hersong@earthlink.net.
Sunday, December 4 Timeflies. Pop, hip
hop, electro, dub step, and rock with the indie-
music duo. St. Ambrose Universitys Rogalski
Center (518 West Locust Street, Davenport). 9 p.m.
$8-10. For tickets and information, call (563)333-
6251 or e-mail CAB@sau.edu.
Sunday, December 4 The Daredevil
Christopher Wright. Independent musicians
touring in support of their new EP The
Longsuffering Song, with openers American Dust
and Caroline & the Good Night Sleeps. Rozz-Tox
(2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 6:30 p.m. doors.
$6. For information, e-mail info@rozztox.com or
visit RozzTox.com. For a 2009 interview with the
Daredevil Christopher Wrights Jon Sunde, visit
RCReader.com/y/daredevil.
THEATRE
Friday, November 25, through Saturday,
December 10 A Tuna Christmas. Holiday
comedy with two actors playing dozens of roles,
directed by Paul Workman. The District Theatre
(1611 Second Avenue, Rock Island). Fridays
and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $15. For
tickets and information, call (309)235-1654 visit
DistrictTheatre.com.
Friday, November 25, through Sunday,
November 27 Small Miracles. A personal
tribute to Christmas past, written and performed
by resident artist Ron Clark. Riverside Theatre
(213 North Gilbert Street, Iowa City). Friday and
Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $15-20. For
tickets and information, call (319)338-7672 or visit
RiversideTheatre.org.
Thursday, December 1, through Sunday,
December 4 Scrooge. Quad City Music Guild
presents the musical adaptation of Charles
Dickens A Christmas Carol, directed by Bob
Williams. Prospect Park Auditorium (1584 34th
Avenue, Moline). Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m.,
Sunday 2 p.m. $10-15. For tickets and information,
call (309)762-6610 or visit QCMusicGuild.com.
Thursday, December 1, through Saturday,
December 10 Hamlet. A condensed, minimalist
version of Shakespeares tragedy, directed by Carol
MacVey. University of Iowas David Thayer Theatre
(200 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City). Tuesdays-
Saturdays 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $10-17. For
tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit
http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Saturday, December 3, and Sunday,
December 4 Dakota Jones & the Search for
Atlantis. Debuting family musical written by
student Aaron Randolph III, directed by Daniel D.P.
Sheridan. St. Ambrose Universitys Galvin Fine Arts
Center (2101 Gaines Street, Davenport). 3 p.m. $7-
8. For tickets and information, call (563)333-6251
or visit SAU.edu/galvin.
DANCE
Friday, December 2, through Sunday,
December 4 The Nutcracker. Production of
Tchaikovskys holiday ballet presented by the
Englert and the Nolte Academy of Dance. Englert
Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City).
Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday and
Sunday 2 p.m. $16-22. For tickets and information,
call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Monday, December 5, and Tuesday,
December 6 The Moscow Ballets Great
Russian Nutcracker. Tchaikovskys classic in a
production featuring larger-than-life puppets,
hand-painted backdrops, hundreds of original
Russian costumes, and the world-renowned
dancers. Orpheum Theatre (57 South Kellogg
Street, Galesburg). Monday 7:30 p.m., Tuesday
2 p.m. $30-50. For tickets and information, call
(309)342-2299 or visit TheOrpheum.org.
COMEDY
Wednesday, November 23 Establishment
Theatre First-Anniversary Show. Featuring an
improv battle between ComedySportz teams,
stand-up comedy with Chris Schlicting, the Guys
In Ties touring company, a short film, and more.
Establishment Theatre (220 19th Street, Rock Island).
7 p.m. $10-12. For tickets and information, call
(309)786-1111 or visit EstablishmentTheatre.com.
Thursday, December 1 Melissa Villasenor.
Standup comedy and impressions with the
season-six Americas Got Talent contender. Circa
21 Speakeasy. (1818 Third Avenue, Rock Island).
7:30 p.m. $17.50. For tickets and information, call
(309)786-7733 extension2 or visit Circa21.com.
KIDS STUFF
Friday, November 25 Once Upon a Blank.
versions of the fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood
and The Three Little Pigs.The Establishment
Theatre (220 19th Street, Rock Island). 2 p.m. $5.
For information and tickets, call (309)786-1111 or
visit EstablishmentTheatre.com.
Thursday, December 1, through Sunday,
December Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove.
Skating spectacular featuring Alice in Wonderland,
Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle,
Mulan, Snow White, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Simba,
Nala, Pumbaa and Timon, and many other Disney
favorites. i wireless Center (1201 River Drive,
Moline). Thursday-Saturday 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.
and 3 p.m., Sunday 1 and 5 p.m. $12-47. For tickets,
call (800)745-3000 or visit iwirelessCenter.com.
EVENTS
Friday, November 25, through Sunday,
November 27 Christmas Craft Show. Annual
event featuring hundred s of hand-crafted items
for purchase. QCCA Expo Center (2621 Fourth
Avenue, Rock Island). Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5
p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4, ages 12 and under
free. For information, call (309)788-5912 or visit
QCCAExpoCenter.com.
Friday, December 2 Gallery Hop! Annual
arts tour hosted by MidCoast Fine Arts and
the District; showcasing local and regional
artists in various galleries, artist talks, live
demonstrations, and more. The District of
Rock Island. 5-9 p.m. Free. For information, call
(309)788-6311 or visit RIDistrict.com.
Saturday, December 3 Handmade City
Holiday Arts & Crafts Show. Featuring sewn
items, pottery, knits, screen-prints, paper goods,
jewelry, posters, and more handmade works by
more than 20 Quad Cities-based vendors. Rozz-Tox
(2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free admission. For information, e-mail info@
rozztox.com or visit HandmadeCity.org.
Sunday, December 4 19th-Century Christmas.
Annual event featuring holiday decorations; an
appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus; arts and crafts
activities; performances by the Moline Boys Choir,
pianist/organist Selma Johnson, harpist Caitlin
Thom, and the Slide Trombone Quartet; and more.
Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House
(1105 Eighth Street, Moline). Noon-5 p.m. Free
admission. For information, call (309)743-2700 or visit
ButterworthCenter.com.
What Ise ls Happenin
CEU event presented by St. Ambrose Assistant
Professor of Social Work Pamela Long; $15-$20;
for information, contact Jeannine Yeager at
YeagerJeannineR@sau.edu, Rogalski Center - St.
Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.sau.edu/msw, 1pm Thu Feb 9.
WorldCanvass: The History of Sustainability,
a discussion of culture, history, literature,
language, politics and art, all surrounding this
international theme; free, Senate Chamber of the
Old Capitol, 201 S Clinton St, Iowa City, IA, http://
accents.international.uiowa.edu/worldcanvass,
5pm Fri Feb 10.
Concert Conversations w/ Kai Swanson,
a quick tour of highlights from the evenings
Quad City Symphony Orchestra Valentines Day
Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.qcsymphony.com, 6:30pm Sat Feb 11.
CommU Session on Resistance, with a focus
on the film The White Rose an exhibit tour with
Michael Hustedde; for information, call 563-322-
8844, German American Heritage Center, 712 W.
2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.gahc.org, 2pm
Sun Feb 12.
Concert Conversations w/ Kai Swanson,
a quick tour of highlights from the evenings
Quad City Symphony Orchestra Valentines Day
Centennial Hall, Augustana College, 3703 7th
Ave., Rock Island, IL, http://www.qcsymphony.
com, 1pm Sun Feb 12.
The Sequel: Christian Staffinger and His
Civil War Quilt, Beck Wright, the Quilt Lady, will
be reprising her June 2011 visit with a program
sequel to bring us up to date on Christian
Staffinger, the German immigrant who crafted
Beckys beloved Civil War quilt; for information,
call 563-322-8844, German American Heritage
Center, 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://www.
gahc.org, 2pm Sun Feb 19.
A Gift That Money Cant Buy, Jeff Bockman
explains how to use the basic forms to record
family data, as well as basics for identifying people
in photographs, basic preservation, and how to
record unique family stories; free; for information,
call 309-524-2470, Moline Public Library, 3210
41st St, Moline, IL, http://www.molinelibrary.com,
7pm Tue Feb 21.
China Business Forum, sponsored by the SAU
College of Business; free; for information, contact
Ryan Dye at 563-333-6389 or DyeRyanD@sau.
edu, Rogalski Center - St. Ambrose University, 518
W. Locust St., Davenport, IA, http://www.sau.edu,
7pm Wed Feb 22.
Finding Hallowed Ground: Americas Civil
War Sites Today, amateur historian Michel Weeks
will discuss his travels to the battlefields and other
Civil War Related sites with a slideshow, and have
his books available for purchase and signing; free;
molinelibrary.com, 2:30pm Sat Feb 25.
1pm Sat Feb 25.
Easter in Germany: Traditions, Kathi Hofmann
presents on Easter commons practiced in German
homes and at community venues and events; for
information, call 563-322-8844, German American
Heritage Center, 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA,
http://www.gahc.org, 2pm Sun Feb 26.
Writing Fiction as a Chinese American,
lecture with Lan Samantha Chang, director of
the University of Iowa Writers Workshop; free;
for information, contact Ryan Dye at 563-333-
6389 or DyeRyanD@sau.edu, Rogalski Center - St.
Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport,
IA, http://www.sau.edu, 7pm Wed Feb 29.
Ongoing
Centering Prayer, on Wednesdays; this
prayer method provides a way to foster a deep
relationship with God; for information, contact Sr.
Catherine Cleary, OSB at 309-283-2118 or ccleary@
smmsisters.org, Benet House Retreat Center - St.
Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. West, Rock Island,
IL, 1pm Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
QCAD Young Adults Group, on Wednesdays;
meet other LGBTQ people from your area in a
relaxed and friendly atmosphere; for information,
call 309-786-2580, Quad Citians Affirming
Diversity Center, 1705 2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock
Island, IL, http://www.qcad-outforgood.org, 7pm
Wed Nov 23 thru Wed Dec 28.
Marijuana Anonymous, for information on
times and locations, call 309-502-9766 or e-mail
ma_qca@yahoo.com, Wed Nov 23 thru Sat Dec
31.
QCAD Young Adults Social Group, on
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Wed Nov 23 thru
Wed Feb 29.
Walking the 12 Steps with Jesus Christ -
Hablamos Espanol, on Thursdays; weekly open
meeting on Thursdays; for information, call 309-
786-4769, GROW Ministries Inc., 3900 18th Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.growministry.org,
6:30pm Thu Nov 24 thru Thu Dec 29.
Independent ScholarsEvening, on Thursdays;
the evenings are for the presentation of area
Independent Scholars ongoing work; snacks and
a cash bar available; free; for information, call 309-
762-9202 or e-mail qcinstitute@sbcglobal.net,
Moline Commercial Club, 513b 16th St, Moline,
IL, http://www.qcinstitute.org, 7pm Thu Nov 24
thru Thu Dec 29.
QCAD Mens Coming Out Group, on the 2nd
& 4th Thursdays of the month; for information, call
309-786-2580, Quad Citians Affirming Diversity
Center, 1705 2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island, IL,
http://www.qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Thu
Nov 24 thru Thu Feb 23.
The Project Weekly Dinners, on Thursdays;
weekly dinner with friends from the Project of
the Quad Cities; $6; for information, call 309-762-
5433 or e-mail info@apqc4life.org, Connections
Nightclub, 822 W. 2nd St., Davenport, IA, http://
www.apqc4life.org, 5pm Thu Nov 24 thru Feb
23.
QCAD Youth Drop-in, for ages 13-19, on
Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays; a fun, safe place
to hang out and meet new LGBTQ people; watch
movies, play games, or just talk and hang out with
supportive peers; the center features a library
and Internet access; for information, call 309-786-
2580, Quad Citians Affirming Diversity Center,
1705 2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island, IL, http://
www.qcad-outforgood.org, 6:30pm Fri Nov 25
thru Fri Dec 30.
QCAD Drop-in for Teens, on Fridays;
for information, call 309-786-2580, Quad
Citians Affirming Diversity Center, 1705 2nd
Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 6:30pm Fri Nov 25 thru
Fri Feb 24.
Bruce Walters Faces from the Figge @
Figge Art Museum through December 18
Got A Problem? Ask Amy Alkon.
171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405
or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (AdviceGoddess.com)
2011, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.
0ive 7iII lt Hertz
For 10 years, this woman and I have had a
hot-and-cold long-distance relationship, the
temperature of which shes always controlled.
Shes 56; Im 46. Last year, she felt ready to try
for something lasting. She couldnt afford to
travel, so I paid for her flight. She stayed with
me for two wonderful, passionate months,
and then we vacationed together in February.
I paid for her flight, rental car, hotel, and
meals. Again, it was very passionate. Last
month, we vacationed together again, funded
by me. The day she arrived, she declared her
sex life a thing of the past. I was stunned and
found sharing the bed rather challenging, but
Ive never forced myself on any woman and
Im not about to start. My friends are now
fuming. I counter that in funding everything,
it was never my intention to be paying for
horizontal refreshment. Was she wrong to
agree to this trip and then change the terms of
our relationship? Am I in denial in not feeling
angry?
Wondering
When youve been romantic with a woman
for a decade and youre taking her on yet
another passionate getaway, its reasonable to
expect shell be interested in doing more in bed
than letting you watch as she does the crossword
puzzle. (If shes feeling kinky, you could be in for
some mind-blowing sudoku.)
It cost you, what, $3,000 the price of a TV
the size of a small European country to have
her personally deliver the news that she wouldnt
be having sex with you? Youd be leading your
friends in fuming if you hadnt gotten all tangled
up in your self-image as a gentleman. And no,
just because a man buys a woman something
dinner, for example that doesnt mean she
owes him sex. But lets be honest; we all know
he isnt buying dinner out of an overwhelming
desire to feed hungry females free lobster, and it
isnt brotherly benevolence thats behind an all-
expenses-paid vacation from a man who does
not earn a living as a game-show host.
The question is, was this womans lack of pre-
vacation disclosure a random act of jerkhood,
utterly unpredictable, like a Russian satellite
landing on some poor schlubs beater Yugo? Or,
more likely, was it utterly predictable based on
years of your showing her youd take whatever
she dished out? Your lack of anger is telling.
Anger gets triggered when you feel somebodys
shorted you on something you were entitled
to like the courtesy of a phone call (before
you paid for yet another passionate vacation)
informing you that the birds are taxiderm-ied
and the bees are dead.
Chances are, youre a too-nice guy a guy
whose niceness is actually suck-uppy-ness,
who believes his perceived loser-hood will be
cured if only he can get into a relationship.
Ironically, the loser-hood is caused by the
willingness to do anything for love. That
doesnt get you love; it gets you doing anything
and everything for it and ending up with blue
balls and a big hotel bill. In the future, even if
you cant quite believe you deserve a mutual
relationship, you need to risk acting as if you do,
and speak up and even bail whenever one turns
out not to be. Everything wont always be 50/50,
but you and a woman you take on a romantic
vacation should be on the same page about the
proper placement of the Do Not Disturb sign:
on the doorknob all weekend, as opposed to
around her neck.
0dd Manischewitz
0ut
Several of my Jewish friends have found
love on JDate. I am a 32-year-old man who
isnt Jewish and has no aspiration to convert
but would like to give JDate a try. Huge faux
pas?
Lapsed Catholic
JDate advertises that its mission is sustaining
Jewish traditions apparently including the
tradition of pissing off ones parents by getting
together with a Catholic. Where I live, in the
21 to 41 age group, I counted 279 non-Jewish
JDaters, including four lesbians looking for
nice Jewish girls. The thing to be wary of is that
people are prone to be overly inclusive at the
point of sale. A woman may sincerely believe
some interfaith-y thing can work, and then the
relationship gets serious and her parents lay
on the pressure, and before you know it, youre
getting dumped for Shlomo McShlomowitz.
Should you end up dating some hot Hebrew, as
tempting as it is to focus on all the ways youre
compatible, youd better dig into all the ways
youre not. Sure, relationships are compromise,
but its one thing to put off the zombie movie
until next weekend and another thing entirely
to try to answer the question What will the
children be? with Jewish on Wednesdays and
Catholic on the weekends.
Ask
the
Advice
0oddess
Y AMY ALK0N
Strongholds Addiction Class, weekly open
meeting on Mondays; for information, call 309-
786-4769, GROW Ministries Inc., 3900 18th Ave.,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.growministry.org,
6:30pm Mon Nov 28 thru Mon Dec 26.
The Word Among Us, on the 2nd & 4th
Mondays of the month; read, reflect, pray, and
share with other committed Christians seeking to
grow in reflecting on the challenges of Scripture
for everyday life; share a new book each month;
with presenter Sr. Charlotte Sonneville, OSB; $5/
session plus the cost of books; for information,
call 309-283-2108 or email retreats@smmsisters.
org, Benet House Retreat Center - St. Mary
Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. West, Rock Island, IL,
QCAD Gay and Gray Group, on the 4th
Monday of the month; for information, call
Center, 1705 2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island, IL,
http://www.qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 7pm Mon
Nov 28 thru Mon Feb 27.
Fireside Knitters, knit and crochet items for
various social organizations throughout the
Quad Cities; supplies provided; for information,
davenportlibrary.com, 6:30pm Tue Nov 29 thru
Tue Feb 28.
Davenport City Council Committee of
the Whole, on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of
the month; Davenport City Hall, 226 W. 4th St.,
Davenport, IA, 5:30pm Wed Nov 30 thru Feb
22.
Kiwanis Board Meeting, on the 1st Mon. of
the month; for information, call 563-344-4191,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.bettendorflibrary.
com, 5:15pm Mon Dec 5 thru Mon Feb 6.
Committee of the Whole, on the 1st &
3rd Tuesdays of the month; Scott County
Administration Building, 600 W 4th St, Davenport,
IA, http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/board,
8am Tue Dec 6 thru Tue Jan 17.
QCAD Dining OUT, on the second Monday
of the month; meet at a designated restaurant
and enjoy a meal with QCAD friends; on Dec.
12, meet at the Bud Skyline Inn, 2621 Airport
Road, Moline; for information, call 309-786-2580,
qcaffirmingdiversity.org, 6pm Mon Dec 12 thru
Mon Feb 13.
Civil Rights Commission Meeting, on the
2nd Tuesday of the month; Davenport City Hall,
226 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA, 12pm Tue Dec 13
thru Tue Feb 14.
Knitting for Peace, free; for information, call
rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Dec 13 thru Tue Feb
14.
Bettendorf School Board Meeting, on the
3rd Monday of the month; Mississippi Bend AEA,
729 21st St, Bettendorf, IA, 7pm Mon Dec 19
thru Mon Feb 20.
Gay & Gray, on the 3rd Monday of the month;
join with other LGBTQ seniors in a fun and
supportive environment; a place to meet other
people like you, learn answers to your questions
about end-of-life issues, and connect you to
senior services in the area; for information, call
Center, 1705 2nd Ave., Suite 308, Rock Island,
IL, http://www.qcad-outforgood.org, 7pm Mon
Dec 19 thru Mon Feb 20.
World Affairs Council/World Community
Institute Meeting, on the 4th Tuesday of the
month; for information, call 563-344-4191,
Bettendorf, IA, http://www.bettendorflibrary.
com, 7pm Tue Jan 24 thru Tue Feb 28.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22-
December 21): It is a tremendous
act of violence to begin anything,
said Sagittarian poet Rainer Maria Rilke. I am
not able to begin. I simply skip what should be
the beginning. I urge you to consider trying that
approach yourself, Sagittarius. Instead of worrying
about how to launch your rebirth, maybe you
should just dive into the middle of the new life
you want for yourself. Avoid stewing interminably
in the frustrating mysteries of the primal chaos so
you can leap into the fun in full swing.

CAPRICORN (December 22-January
19): The Golden Gate Bridge spans
the place where San Francisco Bay
meets the Pacific Ocean. It wasnt easy to build.
The water below is deep, wind-swept, beset with
swirling currents, and on occasion shrouded
with blinding fog. Recognizing its magnificence,
the American Society of Civil Engineers calls
the bridge one of the modern Wonders of the
World. Strange to think, then, that the bridge
was constructed between 1933 and 1937, during
the height of the Great Depression. I suggest you
make it your symbol of power for the coming
weeks, Capricorn. Formulate a plan to begin
working toward a triumph in the least successful
part of your life.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February
18): Its an excellent time for you to
get an entourage or if you already have one, to
expand it. For that matter, its a perfect moment
for you to recruit more soldiers to help you carry
out your plot to overthrow the status quo. Or to
round up more allies for your plans to change
the course of local history. Or to gather more
accomplices as you seek to boldly go where you
have never gone before. So beef up your support
system. Boost the likelihood that your conspiracy
will succeed.

PISCES (February 19-March 20): If
you expand your concept of what youre
capable of, you will receive a specific offer
to move up a notch. If you perform your duties
with intensified care and grace, you will be given
new responsibilities that catalyze your sleeping
potential. The universe doesnt always act with so
much karmic precision, with such sleek, efficient
fairness, but thats how its working in your vicinity
right now. Heres one more example of how
reasonable the fates are behaving: If you resolve
to compete against no one but yourself, you will
be shown new secrets about how to express your
idiosyncratic genius.

Homework: Are you ready for an orgy of gratitude?
Identify 10 of your best blessings. Tell me all about it
at FreeWillAstrology.com.
FR WlLL A57R0L00Y by Rob Brezsny
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny's
EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES
& DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at
1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700
LEO (July 23-August 22): If you
traveled 300 million years back in time,
you might freak out in abject fear as
you encountered dragonflies as big as eagles
and cockroaches the size of dogs. But since
youre quite safe from those monsters here in the
present, theres no need to worry yourself sick
about them. Similarly, if you managed to locate
a time machine and return to an earlier phase
of your current life, youd come upon certain
events that upset you and derailed you way back
then. And yet the odds are very high that youre
not going to find a time machine. So maybe you
could agree to relinquish all the anxiety youre
still carrying from those experiences that can no
longer upset and derail you. Now would be an
excellent moment to do so.

VIRGO (August 23-September 22):
To prepare for her role in the film The
Help, actress Jessica Chastain forced
herself to gain 15 pounds. It was tough, because
she normally follows a very healthy diet. The
strategy that worked best was to ingest a lot of
calorie-heavy, estrogen-rich ice cream made
from soybeans. To be in alignment with current
cosmic rhythms, it would make sense for you to
fatten yourself up, too, Virgo metaphorically
speaking, that is. I think youd benefit from
having more ballast, more gravitas. You need
to be sure youre well-anchored and not easy
to push around. Its nearly time to take an
unshakable stand for what you care about most.

LIBRA (September 23-October
22): In a famous Monty Python
sketch, a Hungarian tourist goes into a British
tobacconists store to buy cigarettes. Since he
doesnt speak English, he consults a phrase
book to find the right words. My hovercraft
is full of eels, he tells the clerk, whos not sure
what he means. The tourist tries again: Do
you want to come back to my place, bouncy
bouncy? Again, the clerk is confused. In the
coming week, Libra, I foresee you having to deal
with communications that are equally askew.
Be patient, please. Try your best to figure out
the intentions and meanings behind the odd
messages youre presented with. Your translating
skills are at a peak, fortunately, as are your
abilities to understand what other people even
fuzzy thinkers are saying.

SCORPIO (October 23-November
21): There are modern Chinese
painters who use oil paints on
canvas to create near-perfect replicas of famous
European masterpieces. So while the genuine
copy of Van Goghs Starry Night is worth over
$100 million, you can buy an excellent copy on
the Internet for less than $100. If youre faced
with a comparable choice in the coming week
whether to go with a pricey original or a
cheaper but good facsimile, I suggest you take
the latter. For your current purposes, you just
need what works, not what gives you prestige or
bragging rights.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Basic
research is what I am doing when I
dont know what I am doing, said
rocket scientist Werner von Braun. I think its
an excellent time for you to plunge into that
kind of basic research, Aries. Youre overdue
to wander around frontiers you didnt even
realize you needed to investigate. Youre
ready to soak up insights from outside the
boundaries of your understanding. In fact, I
think its your sacred duty to expose yourself
to raw truths and unexpected vistas that have
been beyond your imaginations power to
envision.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In
Woody Allens film Midnight in Paris,
the Ernest Hemingway character
says, All cowardice comes from not loving,
or not loving well enough. Given the
state of your current astrological omens,
Taurus, that is an excellent piece of advice. I
suspect you are going to be asked to call on
previously untapped reserves of courage in
the coming weeks not because youll have
to face physical danger but rather because
you will have a chance to get to the bottom
of mysteries that can only be explored if you
have more courage than youve had up until
now. And the single best way to summon
the valor youll need is to love like a god or
goddess loves.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When
I see your face, the stones start
spinning! wrote the poet Rumi, as
translated by Coleman Barks. Water turns
pearly. Fire dies down and doesnt destroy.
In your presence I dont want what I thought
I wanted. I think you need to be in the
presence of a face like that, Gemini. Youve
got to get your fixations scrambled by an
arresting vision of soulful authenticity. You
need your colors transposed and your fire
and water reconfigured. Most of all, its crucial
that you get nudged into transforming your
ideas about what you really want. So go find
that healingly disruptive prod, please. Its
not necessarily the face of a gorgeous icon.
It could be the face of a whisperer in the
darkness or of a humble hero whos skilled in
the art of surrender. Do you know where to
look?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): All
my life I have longed to be loved by a
woman who was melancholy, thin, and
an actress, wrote 19th-Century French author
Stendhal in his diary. Now I have been, and I
am not happy. I myself had a similar experience
craving a particular type of women who, when
she finally showed up in the flesh, disappointed
me. But it turned out to be a liberating experience.
Relieved of my delusory fantasy, I was able to draw
more joy from what life was actually giving me. As
you contemplate your own loss, Cancerian, I hope
you will find the release and deliverance I did.
November 10 Answers: Right
ACROSS
1. Chthonic god
6. Something with a tread
11. About
15. Kind of crime
19. Famed club Whisky _ _
20. Hurry
21. Child of Zeus
22. Girasol
23. Start of a quip by Bob Monk-
house: 2 wds.
25. Bound
26. Caliber
27. Spear of a kind
28. Barbarous
30. Accidental
32. Pup _
33. Fastened a certain way
34. 100 centavos
35. Disparage
38. Lugged
39. Fuddy-duddy
43. Great Barrier Island: var.
44. Dwindle
45. Anatomical sac
46. Hebrew letter
47. Part 2 of quip: 3 wds.
53. Pt. of SSS
54. Public spaces
55. Worn
56. Dismounted
57. Exalts
59. Alto and tenor instruments
60. Take a break
62. Times
63. Bundled
64. Pricey
65. Leaned to one side
68. A fox or dog, e.g.
69. Laughed
73. Moscato d_
74. Prospect
75. _ bleu!
76. Prof. org.
82. Misjudge
83. Socializes
84. Where Vientiane is
85. Nick at _
86. Cartoonist, at times
88. Like an insomniac
90. Candlestick, e.g.
92. Minced oath
93. Status
94. Musical section
95. Variety of brandy
98. Area of Venice
99. At work
103. Ardent
104. Search
106. End of the quip: 2 wds.
108. Acronym since 1949
109. Gaelic
110. Bone: prefix
111. Cousin to 108-Across
112. _ vital
113. Prophet
114. Sources of annoyance
115. Curves
DOWN
1. Thirty days _...
2. Ottoman officer
3. Go-getter
4. Like the Copts
5. Did it alone
6. Divert
7. _ Heuer
8. Fair-haired ones: 2 wds.
9. Repeat
10. Moderate
11. Dinner starter
12. Oka River city
13. _ culpa
14. Baristas offering
15. Rub elbows
16. Footless
17. Edible root
18. Basic: abbr.
24. First-rate: hyph.
29. Nugent or Turner
31. Very, in music
34. The scup
35. Use a divining rod
36. _ alcohol
37. Della or Mason
38. Formal wear
39. Essentials
40. Viewpoint
41. Skin layer
42. Speed units
44. Cambria, at present
45. With _ breath
48. Eidolon
49. Stead anagram
50. Dinner choice
51. Became
52. Pearly material
58. Of a prophet
59. Word in some place names
60. Hear again, judicially
61. Glutton
63. Ground
64. Does a cooks job
65. Call
66. French department
67. First step
68. Drink akin to perry
69. Sierra Nevada lake
70. True frog
71. Overact
72. Office gadget
74. Troubled
75. Police actions
78. Last letter
79. Thaumaturges specialty
81. Dilates
84. Yeast enzyme
87. Sinew
88. A state: abbr.
89. Hit
90. Arizona Indian tribe
91. Danish seaport
93. Cheapskate
94. Silver salmons
95. Lambaste
96. Jelly bean shape
97. Bhagavad _
98. Stood
100. Genus of ducks
101. Observe
102. Deck items
105. Mineral
107. Retrieve
N07 FUNNY November 23, 2011
November 10 Crossword Answers
WinterFest exhibit @ Family Museum, through January 1
Money Smart Meeting, on the final
Wednesday of the month; for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 2pm Wed Jan 25 thru
Wed Feb 29.
Committee of the Whole, on the 2nd &
final Tuesdays of the month; Scott County
Administration Building, 600 W 4th St,
Davenport, IA, http://www.scottcountyiowa.
com/board, 8am Tue Jan 31 thru Tue Feb 28.
November thru February
Scott County Extension Council Meeting,
for information, call 563-359-7577, Scott
County Extension, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Suite B,
Bettendorf, IA, http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/
calendar, 7pm Tue Nov 29.
Network @ Night: The Clubhouse, light
appetizers, a cash bar, and networking with
Network friends; $10 for non-members, free for
members; sponsored by Ballet Quad Cities; for
information, call 309-757-5416 or 563-322-1706,
The Clubhouse, 2501 53rd Ave., Bettendorf, IA,
5:30pm Thu Dec 1.
Quad-Cities Computer Society Meeting,
with free presentations and special guests;
open to the public, Butterworth Center, 1105
8th Street, Moline, IL, http://www.qcs.org, 7pm
Mon Dec 5.
Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild Meeting,
a business meeting, w/ local, regional or
national teachers, and a show-and-tell of
projects completed by our members; the
quilt guild participates in many community
charity activities by donating time and
quilts to organizations such as Habitat for
Humanity, Family Resources, Crisis Pregnancy,
and Lutheran Social Services, and provides
community educational demonstrations at
local venues; for information, call 309-912-3493,
First Congregational Church - Moline, 2201 7th
Avenue, Moline, IL, http://www.mvqg.org, 1pm
Tue Dec 6.
Money Smart Meeting, for information, call
bettendorflibrary.com, 2pm Wed Dec 7.
Bettendorf Public Library Board of
Trustees Meeting, for information, call 563-
bettendorflibrary.com, 4:30pm Thu Dec 8.
Friends of the Rock Island Library Meeting,
featuring the Friendship Manor Christmas
Sing-a-Long and chicken marsala with pasta;
$6.50/meal; RSVP at 309-786-5293, First Baptist
Church of Rock Island, 3020 30th St, Rock Island,
IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 11:30am
Mon Dec 12.
Scott County Extension Council Meeting,
for information, call 563-359-7577, Scott
County Extension, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Suite B,
Bettendorf, IA, http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/
calendar, 7pm Tue Dec 13.
Knitting for Peace, free; for information,
call 309-732-7323, Rock Island Public Library
- Main Library, 401 19th, Rock Island, IL,
http://www.rockislandlibrary.org, 6pm Tue
Dec 13.
Quad Cities Macintosh Users Group
(QCMUG) Meeting, in the 2nd floor Norm
Kelinson Room; featuring a special program/
presentation on Macintosh Applications or
hardware, and an Open Forum question
and answer period where members help
other Macintosh users solve problems and
improve their computer skills; $24/year family
memberships, guests welcome, Bettendorf
Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus,
Bettendorf, IA, http://http://www.qcmug.org,
6:30pm Tue Dec 20.
Rock Island Public Library Board of
Trustees Meeting, time is provided at the
beginning of each agenda for public comment;
rockislandlibrary.org, 11:30am Tue Dec 20.
CASI Golden Wedding Club Meeting, $4.75-
$6.75; for information, call 563-386-7477, CASI
org, 11am Wed Dec 21.
Professor Norm Moline presents 37 Years
in China with Augustana College Students;
Mexican lasagna for lunch, $6.50/meal; RSVP
at 309-786-5293, First Baptist Church of Rock
Island, 3020 30th St, Rock Island, IL, http://www.
rockislandlibrary.org, 11:30am Mon Jan 9.
Mayor Dennis Pauley with the annual State
of the City Message ; tortellini pasta salad for
lunch, $6.50/meal; RSVP at 309-786-5293, First
Baptist Church of Rock Island, 3020 30th St,
Rock Island, IL, http://www.rockislandlibrary.
org, 11:30am Mon Feb 13.
soil against American citizens is specifically
prohibited under the U.S. Constitution and
state constitutions, including those of Iowa and
Illinois. But who is stopping this proliferation
on domestic soil? Certainly not we the people.
And if not we the people, then who, pray tell?
The problem is not confined to Scott
County. This ceding of authority to regional
entities is a phenomenon that is occurring
across the country. Huge government
facilities are being constructed all along the
nations major transportation routes, some
posing as regional emergency-management
centers like ours. My fear is these facilities
are, or will become, federal fusion centers,
under the purview of the Department of
Homeland Security. Meanwhile, the financial
responsibility for the construction and
operation of these federally controlled fusion
centers is coming from the respective county
and municipal taxpayers.
In other words, the lions share of these
federal facilities, including the covert
programming being executed within, is being
paid for by local taxpayers, who have no access,
let alone oversight of any kind not even
through elected leaders. This is unprecedented.
And under these conditions, those operating
these facilities are unaccountable to the
American people. The line has been drawn,
folks. Its time to get off the couch. Mark
my words: Soon some kind of state/federal
partnership with SECC will be announced,
and the county will laud it as an offset to the
expenditures we are now incurring.
The quid pro quo for local bureaucrats and
elected leaders cooperation is the promise
of future funding via federal grants monies
local taxpayers have no control over, but which
ultimately obligate us in other ways without
our consent, usually restricting the use of our
own private property. I hope I am wrong but
fear I am not.
But it is even more foul than you know.
Most of the legislation these days federal,
state, and now local is a complete departure
from the rule of law as originally established
by our founders. We are mostly adjudicated
under administrative procedure, which is pure
rule-making and has virtually no adherence to
the foundational law of the land the state and
U.S. constitutions, including the Bill of Rights.
You must revisit these documents to fully
understand how far off the reservation weve
gone. Man- or woman-up, or never complain
again. If you cant civically participate, then
by your inaction you give a green light to
governments gone wild, whether local, state,
or federal.
the potential benefits are negligible when
compared to the amount of increased debt
and tax burdens residents must now shoulder.
Taxes are currently up as much as 90 cents for
rural residents, but no less than 65 cents per
$1,000 in residential home valuation in Scott
County. And thats just in year two.
It is even more maddening knowing that the
current elected bodies are absolutely clueless
about the consequences of their complete
lack of stewardship in allowing entrenched
bureaucrats and staff to run the entire show.
These folks have dropped the ball so severely
that nothing less than an entirely new Board of
Supervisors will suffice, along with an overhaul
of the city councils and state legislators
all of whom must possess the capacity for
comprehending and governing the business
of these political subdivisions. This go-along-
to-get-along mentality of the majority of our
elected leaders, encouraged and nurtured by
the two-party political system, has got to stop
if we the people have a prayer of asserting any
level of accountability.
Repealing the SECCs no-cap tax should
be the next order of business. There is no
reason that this facility should not have to
justify its budget, and seek approval, just like
every other government entity. As it stands
now, regardless of property values, economic
conditions, or individual taxpayers ability
to pay, Scott County residents are financially
obligated for the perpetual funding of this
monstrosity. Each time a budget is submitted,
the intergovernmental agreement states that
the county shall approve a countywide special
levy ... to fund said budget. This means no
adjustments, let alone declining it altogether
because its expenditures are not justifiable to
anyone but those bureaucrats benefiting from
them.
Case in point is the new budget approved
just last week by the SECC board, which
provides for a newly created $66,000 position,
and a 1.5-percent salary increase for all
employees. While the rest of the country
is struggling, this special class of workers
benefits because a no-cap tax gives this new
bureaucracy an unlimited source of funding!
Iowa Code 28E also suspends certain
constitutional protections, including arrests
without warrants or due process, and seizures
of private property all under the claim of an
emergency. There is no such thing as a local,
state, or national emergency so dire that it need
suspend the Bill of Rights.
Yet nationwide, municipal police
departments are being armed with military-
grade weaponry, non-lethal crowd-control
technology, armored personnel carriers, and
more. This use of military force on domestic
More Governments Gone Wild
by Kathleen McCarthy
km@rcreader.com
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Live Music Live Music Live Music
Email all listings to calendar@rcreader.com Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publication
2011/11/23 (Wed)
Burlington Street Bluegrass Band -The
Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA
Caught in the Act - Night People -The
Rusty Nail, 2606 W Locust Daven-
port, IA
DJ Jeff & Karaoke -Greenbriar Res-
taurant and Lounge, 4506 27th St
Moline, IL
Funktastic Five -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady
St. Davenport, IA
Jam Session -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13
S Linn St Iowa City, IA
Jeff Miller (6pm) -Gs Riverfront Cafe,
102 S Main St Port Byron, IL
Karaoke Night -Applebees Neighbor-
hood Grill - Davenport, 3005 W.
Kimberly Rd. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Sharkys Bar & Grill,
2902 E. Kimberly Rd. Davenport, IA
Keller Karaoke -Martinis on the Rock,
4619 34th St Rock Island, IL
Le Roy - American Dust - Tom Teslik
- Ian Lambach -RME (River Music
Experience), 131 W. 2nd St. Dav-
enport, IA
Live Lunch w/ Caitlin Thom (noon) -RME
Communi ty Stage, 131 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, IA
Night People -Len Browns North Shore
Inn, 7th Street and the Rock River
Moline, IL
Ochos Locos Rock Show -Rascals Live,
1418 15th St. Moline, IL
Open Mic Night w/ Alan Sweet and Siri
Mason -RME Community Stage, 131 W.
2nd St. Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Karl, Mike, & Doug
-Boozies Bar & Grill, 114 1/2 W. 3rd
St. Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Luis Ochoa -Up-
town Neighborhood Bar and Grill,
2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA
Red Rock-it -Martinis on the Rock, 4619
34th St Rock Island, IL
Ron LaPuma Band -The Muddy Waters,
1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA
Rude Punch -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock
Island, IL
Southern Thunder Karaoke -Hollars
Bar and Gri l l, 4050 27th St Mo-
line, IL
The Chris & Wes Show -Mound Street
Landing, 1029 Mound St. Daven-
port, IA
The Lovedogs -GBs Sports Bar, 655
Main St. New Liberty, IA
The Wi l der Si de Band (7 & 9pm)
- Lacey Brown (8 & 10pm) -River-
side Casino and Golf Resort, 3184
Highway 22 Riverside, IA
Tronicity -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E
11th St Davenport, IA
Wild Oatz -Purgatorys Pub, 2104 State
St Bettendorf, IA
2011/11/24 (Thu)
Dennis Albee -Riverside Casino and
Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Riv-
erside, IA
Moline, IL
Hunter Station -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
Locust Davenport, IA
Karaoke & Retro DJ w/ BMAX Enter-
tainment -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady
St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Purgatorys Pub, 2104
State St Bettendorf, IA
Karaoke Night -The Gallery Lounge,
3727 Esplanade Ave. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -The Lucky Frog Bar and
Grill, 313 N Salina St McCausland, IA
Koobys Karaoke -Headquarters Bar &
Grill, 119 E. 22nd Ave. Coal Valley, IL
Mixology -Gabes, 330 E. Washington
St. Iowa City, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Kung Fu Tofu
-Stickmans, 1510 N. Harrison St.
Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ The Dukes of Hag-
gard -Bier Stube Moline, 417 15th
St Moline, IL
Rock N the House Karaoke -Uptown
Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340
Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA
Troy Harris, Pianist (6pm) -Red Crow
Grille, 2504 53rd St. Bettendorf, IA
2011/11/25 (Fri)
Barlowe & James (6pm) -Rhythm City Ca-
sino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA
Big Al -The Odeon, 8025 Avenue N.
Clinton, IA
Black Friday Rainbow Hip-Hop Bash
-Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa
City, IA
Bob Dorr & the Blue Band -Gatherings
Restaurant & Nightclub, 905 3rd St.
SE Cedar Rapids, IA
Cheese Pizza -Uptown Neighborhood
Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr.
Bettendorf, IA
David Killinger & Friends -Gs Riv-
erfront Cafe, 102 S Main St Port
Byron, IL
Deja Vu Rendezvous featuring The Late
Nite Blues Brothers Band -The Red-
stone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA
Hap Hazzard -Martinis on the Rock,
Homegrown 3-Way: The Last Glimpse
- 1380 - The Post Mortems -RIBCO,
1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Jazz Af ter Fi ve w/ The Hands of
Time Quartet (5:30pm) - Tbone
(10pm) -The Mill, 120 E Burlington
Iowa City, IA
Just Chords -Kilkennys, 300 W. 3rd St.
Davenport, IA
Just Cuz -Purgatorys Pub, 2104 State St
Bettendorf, IA
Karaoke Night (members only) -Moose
Lodge - Davenport, 2333 Rocking-
ham Rd Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Circle Tap, 1345 Locust
St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Creekside Bar and Grill,
3303 Brady St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Paddlewheel Sports Bar
& Grill, 221 15th St Bettendorf, IA
Karaoke Night -Stickmans, 1510 N.
Harrison St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night w/ Stevie J. -Biscuits Bar
& Grill, 600 Front St Buffalo, IA
Larry Stone (6pm) -Toucans Cantina
/ Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street
Milan, IL
Live Lunch w/ Melanie Devaney (noon)
-RME Community Stage, 131 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, IA
Lynn Allen Reunion Show - Simon
Says Uncle -Rascals Live, 1418 15th
St. Moline, IL
Russ Reyman Trio (5pm) - Rod Stewart
Act - Funktastic Five (9pm)-The Rusty
Nail, 2606 W Locust Davenport, IA
Smooth Groove -Fargo Dance & Sports,
4204 Avenue of the Cities Moline, IL
Southern Thunder Karaoke & DJ
-Hollars Bar and Grill, 4050 27th St
Moline, IL
The Candymakers -The Muddy Waters,
The Oolong Gurus -RME Community
Stage, 131 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
The Pri ncemen -Ri versi de Casi no
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA
Troy Harris, pianist (6pm) -Phoenix,
111 West 2nd St. Davenport, IA
United Soul -Edje Nightclub at Jumers
Casino and Hotel, I-280 & Hwy 92
Rock Island, IL
2011/11/26 (Sat)
Barl owe & James ( 6pm) -Rhythm
City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Dav-
enport, IA
Benefit for Scott Olsen: Jordan Dan-
ielsen - Ren Estrand w/ Michael
Brock - The Harri s Col l ecti on
- Corey Wal l ace - Pati o (4pm)
-Davenport Eagles Lodge, 4401 W.
Locust St. Davenport, IA
Birthday Bash for the Queen of Rust:
The Dirt Daubers - Sean & Zander
- The Calamity Cubes - Willie Tea
Taylor - The Krank Daddies -RIBCO,
1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Carol Montag -Ohnward Fine Arts Cen-
ter, 1215 E Platt St. Maquoketa, IA
Community Drum Circle (10:30am)
-RME Community Stage, 131 W. 2nd
St. Davenport, IA
Confederate Railroad -Riverside Casino
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA
David Killinger & Friends -Gs Riv-
erfront Cafe, 102 S Main St Port
Byron, IL
First Impression -Hawkeye Tap, 4646
Cheyenne Ave. Davenport, IA
Funktastic Five -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
Gray Wolf Band -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady
St. Davenport, IA
Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Moes Pi zza, 1312
Camanche Ave Clinton, IA
Kelly Pardekooper CD Release Show
-Englert Theatre, 221 East Washing-
ton St. Iowa City, IA
25 FRIDAY
26 SATURDAY
23 WEDNESDAY
Little River Band @ Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention
Center November 26
24 THURSDAY
1611 W. Locust St. | Davenport, IA 52804 | 563.326.1847
www.dolandjewelers.com | Look for us on Facebook.
We get to know our brides pretty well.
Thats why Doland brides are invited to
select from a range of beautiful jewelry to
accessorize their wedding gown for free!
Visit us at Doland Jewelers
for complete details.
wedding day?
Free
jewelry for your
2011/11/27 (Sun)
ABC Karaoke -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
Anthony Catalfano Quartet (10:30am)
-Brady Street Chop House, Radisson
QC Plaza Hotel Davenport, IA
Funday Sunday with Lee Blackmon
(6pm) -The Muddy Waters, 1708
State St. Bettendorf, IA
Jazz Brunch w/ Manny Lopez, Tewanta
Lopez, & Josh Duffee (10:30am &
12:30pm) -Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E.
3rd St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -11th Street Precinct,
2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA
Russ Reyman, Pianist (10am) -The
Lodge Hotel, 900 Spruce Hills Dr.
Bettendorf, IA
2011/11/28 (Mon)
Jason Carl -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W Locust
Davenport, IA
Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebra-
tion -Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St.
Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Bier Stube Moline, 417
15th St Moline, IL
Metal Mondays -Gabes, 330 E. Wash-
ington St. Iowa City, IA
One Night Stand Open Mic -I owa
City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa
City, IA
Open Mic w/ J. Knight -The Mill, 120 E
Burlington Iowa City, IA
2011/11/29 (Tue)
ABC Karaoke Contest Night -The Rusty
Glenn Hickson (5:30pm) -OMelias
Supper Club, 2900 Blackhawk Rd.
Rock Island, IL
Little River Band -Quad-Cities Waterfront
Convention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway
Bettendorf, IA
Lynn Allen: The Reunion Show -Up-
Night People -Martinis on the Rock,
Ochos Locos Rock Show -Rascals Live,
1418 15th St. Moline, IL
Open Mic Morning (9am) -Whistle Stop
Java Shop, 400 W. 4th St. Milan, IL
Randy Weeks -The Mill, 120 E Burling-
ton Iowa City, IA
Revenge in Mind - Free Weed -RME
Davenport, IA
Russ Reyman, Pianist (7pm) -Phoenix,
Secret Squirrel -Duckys Lagoon, 13515
78th Ave Andalusia, IL
Smooth Groove -Fargo Dance & Sports,
4204 Avenue of the Ci ti es Mo-
line, IL
Moline, IL
The Candymakers -The Muddy Waters,
The Fry Daddi es (6pm) -Toucans
Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st
Street Milan, IL
United Soul -Edje Nightclub at Jumers
Casino and Hotel, I-280 & Hwy 92
Rock Island, IL
Vodkaseven -Purgatorys Pub, 2104
Zither Ensemble (10am) -German
American Heritage Center, 712 W.
Ilya Yakushev -Cedar Rapids Prairie
High School, 401 76th Ave. Cedar
Rapids, IA
Karaoke Night w/ Stevie J. -Davenport
Eagles Lodge, 4401 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA
Karaoke with KO Karaoke -The Muddy
Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA
Open Mic Night -Cool Beanz Coffee-
house, 1325 30th St. Rock Island, IL
Open Mic Night -The Dam View Inn, 410
2nd St Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Alan Sweet -Green-
briar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506
27th St Moline, IL
Open Mic w/ Pat Willis -Bier Stube Dav-
enport, 2228 E 11th St Davenport, IA
Open Mic w/ Steve McFate -Salute,
1814 7th St Moline, IL
Southern Thunder Karaoke & DJ -Mc-
Manus Pub, 1401 7th Ave Moline, IL
Techn Lincoln -The Mill, 120 E Burling-
ton Iowa City, IA
The Chris & Wes Show -Stacks Bar, 525
14th St. Moline, IL
2011/11/30 (Wed)
Moline, IL
Dream Thieves -Gabes, 330 E. Washing-
ton St. Iowa City, IA
Jam Session -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13
S Linn St Iowa City, IA
Jeff Miller (6pm) -Gs Riverfront Cafe,
102 S Main St Port Byron, IL
Karaoke Night -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
Live Lunch w/ Lewis Knudsen (noon)
St. Davenport, IA
Lyal Strickland - Red Rock Hill -The
Mason -RME Community Stage, 131
W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
-Boozies Bar & Grill, 114 1/2 W. 3rd
St. Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Luis Ochoa -Up-
Southern Thunder Karaoke -Hollars
Bar and Gri l l, 4050 27th St Mo-
line, IL
The Old 57s -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
Yukon Blonde - The Fling -Rozz-Tox,
2108 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
2011/12/01 (Thu)
Branson on the Road: Christmas Style
(7pm) -Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse,
Moline, IL
Jam Sessions with John OMeara and
Friends -The Muddy Waters, 1708
State St. Bettendorf, IA
Jon Wayne & the Pain - Gone South
-Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St
Iowa City, IA
Davenport, IA
Karaoke & Retro DJ w/ BMAX Enter-
tainment -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady
St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Purgatorys Pub, 2104
Karaoke Night -The Gallery Lounge,
3727 Esplanade Ave. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -The Lucky Frog Bar
and Grill, 313 N Salina St McCaus-
land, IA
Live Lunch w/ Mo (noon) -RME Com-
munity Stage, 131 W. 2nd St. Dav-
enport, IA
Mixology -Gabes, 330 E. Washington
St. Iowa City, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Kung Fu Tofu
-Stickmans, 1510 N. Harrison St.
Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ The Dukes of Hag-
gard -Bier Stube Moline, 417 15th
St Moline, IL
Rock N the House Karaoke -Uptown
Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340
Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA
Roster McCabe - Ultraviolet Hippopota-
mus -The Redstone Room, 129 Main St
Davenport, IA
Troy Harris, Pianist (6pm) -Red Crow
Grille, 2504 53rd St. Bettendorf, IA
University of Iowa Jazz Performances:
UI JAZZ Johnson County Landmark
(7pm) - Santah - Chasing Shade
- Homebody Fury (10pm) -The Mill,
120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA
2011/12/02 (Fri)
Big Al -The Odeon, 8025 Avenue N.
Clinton, IA
Boothill Ridge -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady
St. Davenport, IA
Branson on the Road: Christmas Style
(1pm) -Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse,
Charley Hayes Trio (6pm) -Toucans
Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st
Street Milan, IL
2 FRIDAY
30 WEDNESDAY
1 THURSDAY
29 TUESDAY
28 MONDAY
Yukon Blonde @ Rozz-Tox November 30
27 SUNDAY
Spatterdash -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
The Lovedogs -Uptown Neighborhood
Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr.
Bettendorf, IA
Troy Harris, pianist (6pm) -Phoenix,
2011/12/03 (Sat)
Cur ti s Hawki ns Experi ence -The
Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bet-
tendorf, IA
David Killinger & Friends -Gs Riverfront
Cafe, 102 S Main St Port Byron, IL
Daytrotter Wish List Benefit: M. Ward
- Laura Marling - Carlos Forster
- Mike Coykendall -RIBCO, 1815 2nd
Ave. Rock Island, IL
Dennis McMurrin & the Demolition
Band - Funkma$ter -Iowa City Yacht
Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA
FlatTop (6:30pm) -Huckleberrys, 223
18th St Rock Island, IL
Grand Larsony -Crabbys, 826 W. 1st
Ave. Coal Valley, IL
Hersongs 7th Annual Warm Winter
Concert (6pm) -St. Johns Lutheran
Church - Rock Island, 4501 7th Ave.
Rock Island, IL
Karaoke Night -Generations Bar & Grill,
4100 4th Ave. Moline, IL
Karaoke Night -Moes Pi zza, 1312
Camanche Ave Clinton, IA
Kris Lager Band - Dan Hubbard & the
Humadors -The Redstone Room, 129
Main St Davenport, IA
Live Lunch w/ Rachel Schuldt (noon)
St. Davenport, IA
Cosmic -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E
David Killinger & Friends -Gs Riverfront
Cafe, 102 S Main St Port Byron, IL
Drop the Bass - Control Freqs - Hood-
TeK - DJ Lay-Z - Rawdogg -Gabes,
330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA
Emily Jawoisz -The Di stri ct of Rock
Island, 16 1/2 St. Rock Island, IL
Funky Monks - Firesale -RIBCO, 1815 2nd
Ave. Rock Island, IL
Karaoke Night (members only) -Moose
Lodge - Davenport, 2333 Rocking-
ham Rd Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Circle Tap, 1345 Locust
St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Stickmans, 1510 N.
Harrison St. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night w/ Stevie J. -Biscuits Bar
& Grill, 600 Front St Buffalo, IA
Kinsey Report -The Muddy Waters,
Kris Lager Band - Mutts -Iowa City Yacht
Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA
Live Lunch w/ Rose n Thorns (noon)
St. Davenport, IA
MER -Kilkennys, 300 W. 3rd St. Dav-
enport, IA
Moon High -RME Community Stage, 131
W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
Passion -Riverside Casino and Golf Re-
sort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
Rootless Experience -Jammerz Road-
house, 3729 248th St N Hillsdale, IL
Russ Reyman Trio (5pm) -The Rusty Nail,
2606 W Locust Davenport, IA
Moline, IL
Lydia Loveless - Grand Tetons - Milk & Eggs
-The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA
Lynn Allen -The Pub, 4320 N. Brady St.
Davenport, IA
MER -Kilkennys, 300 W. 3rd St. Dav-
enport, IA
Night People -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W
Nitrix -Martinis on the Rock, 4619 34th
St Rock Island, IL
Open Mic Morning (9am) -Whistle Stop
Java Shop, 400 W. 4th St. Milan, IL
Passion -Riverside Casino and Golf Re-
sort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
River Prairie Minstrels (6pm) -RME
Davenport, IA
Russ Reyman, Pianist (7pm) -Phoenix,
Smooth Groove -Uptown Neighbor-
hood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills
Dr. Bettendorf, IA
Moline, IL
Twin Rivers (6pm) -Toucans Cantina
/ Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street
Milan, IL
Zither Ensemble (10am) -German
American Heritage Center, 712 W.
2011/12/04 (Sun)
Jazz Brunch w/Matt Sivertsen, Jamey
Cummins, & Jim Fudge - (10:30am
& 12:30pm) -Hotel Blackhawk, 200
E. 3rd St. Davenport, IA
Johnny Rawls (6pm) -The Muddy Wa-
ters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA
Karaoke Night -11th Street Precinct,
2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA
Manny Lopez Trio (10:30am) -Brady
Street Chop House, Radisson QC
Plaza Hotel Davenport, IA
Russ Reyman, Pianist (10am) -The
Lodge Hotel, 900 Spruce Hills Dr.
Bettendorf, IA
The Daredevil Christopher Wright
- American Dust - Caroline Smith
& the Good Night Sleeps -Rozz-Tox,
Timeflies -Rogalski Center - St. Am-
brose University, 518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA
2011/12/05 (Mon)
Jason Carl -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W Locust
Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night -Bier Stube Moline, 417
15th St Moline, IL
Metal Mondays -Gabes, 330 E. Wash-
ington St. Iowa City, IA
One Night Stand Open Mic -I owa
City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa
City, IA
White Rabbits -The Mill, 120 E Burling-
ton Iowa City, IA
2011/12/06 (Tue)
ABC Karaoke Contest Night -The Rusty
Blues Cafe (6:30pm) -RME Community
Stage, 131 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
Glenn Hickson (5:30pm) -O Mel i as
Supper Club, 2900 Blackhawk Rd.
Rock Island, IL
Irish Christmas in America -CSPS/Legion
Arts, 1103 3rd St SE Cedar Rapids, IA
Karaoke Night -Sharkys Bar & Grill, 2902
E. Kimberly Rd. Davenport, IA
Karaoke Night w/ Stevie J. -Davenport
Eagl es Lodge, 4401 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA
Karaoke with KO Karaoke -The Muddy
Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA
Open Mic Night -Cool Beanz Coffee-
house, 1325 30th St. Rock Island, IL
Open Mic Night -The Dam View Inn, 410
2nd St Davenport, IA
Open Mic Night w/ Alan Sweet -Green-
briar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506
27th St Moline, IL
Open Mic w/ Pat Willis -Bier Stube Dav-
enport, 2228 E 11th St Davenport, IA
Southern Thunder Karaoke & DJ -Mc-
Manus Pub, 1401 7th Ave Moline, IL
The Chris & Wes Show -Stacks Bar, 525
14th St. Moline, IL
2011/12/07 (Wed)
Burlington Street Bluegrass Band -The
DJ Jeff & Karaoke -Greenbriar Restaurant
and Lounge, 4506 27th St Moline, IL
Drop the Bass w/Control Freqs - Hood-
TeK - DJ Lay-Z - Rawdogg -Gabes,
330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA
Jam Session -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S
Linn St Iowa City, IA
Jeff Miller (6pm) -Gs Riverfront Cafe, 102
S Main St Port Byron, IL
hood Gri l l - Davenpor t, 3005 W.
Karaoke Night -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
Karaoke Night -Sharkys Bar & Grill, 2902
E. Kimberly Rd. Davenport, IA
Live Lunch w/ Ellis Kell (noon) -RME
Davenport, IA
Mason -RME Community Stage, 131 W.
-Boozies Bar & Grill, 114 1/2 W. 3rd St.
Davenport, IA
Southern Thunder Karaoke -Hollars Bar
and Grill, 4050 27th St Moline, IL
The Chris & Wes Show -Mound Street Land-
ing, 1029 Mound St. Davenport, IA
7 WEDNESDAY
6 TUESDAY
3 SATURDAY
4 SUNDAY
5 MONDAY
Ultraviolet Hippopotamus The Redstone Room Dec. 1
Great Russian Nutcracker
Great Russian Nutcracker
December 5 at 7:30 pm & December 6 at 2:00 pm
www.theorpheum.org TICKETS $30-$50 (309) 342-2299
The Historic Orpheum Theatre 57 South Kellogg Street Galesburg, Illinois
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
The
The

River Cities Reader Winter Guide - Issue #792 - November 23, 2011

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River Cities Reader Winter Guide - Issue #792 - November 23, 2011

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River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 792 Nov. 23 - Dec.

c. 7,2011 2 Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com

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is preudIy endersed by the American Chirepractic Asseciatien.

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llvlng ls the perfect ccmblnatlcn cf ccmfcrt, functlcn and style.

very year, St. Ambrose Universitys

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